Street & Hawksworth - Involve, inform, inspire: reaching researchers through targeted training

Involve, inform, inspire: Reachingresearchers through targetedtrainingLisa Hawksworth, FacultyLibrarian Social SciencesPenny Street, Faculty LibrarianHealth & Life SciencesUniversity of Liverpool

Once upon a time... University Library• Researcher training delivered by • Focussed on information literacy for various groups in the University UG and taught PG• Research students unhappy with • Library involved in the research training opportunities process; RAE submission, Research Archive and e-theses• Staff engaged in research need support in the run-up to the REF • Desire to engage with the research community

What did we do?• Looked elsewhere! • Advertised via University Announcements/staff and• Created the Researcher PGR email lists Development Programme Group • Used Excel to record bookings;• Liverpool University Press time consuming ‘Getting your PhD published in the Arts & Humanities’ • Collected feedback by emailing attendees individually• So our programme started to grow... • Session ran again a few months later

The story so far...• Workshops/seminars over • Ideas from feedback or survey lunchtime, sometimes longer results or just talking to people; ask for suggestions at every• Different days of the opportunity! week/locations/internal and external speakers • Constantly evolving and• ‘Core’ programme of events developing• One-0ff events to test new ideas or respond to niche areas

The Programme: a flavourCore One-off• Depositing your thesis in the • Using SciFinder University Research Archive • Open Educational Resources• Increase the impact of your researchers seminar journal articles • Getting published in the social• Speed up your web-research: sciences plugins, portals and pinboards • Getting your PhD published in• Advanced Google the Arts & Humanities• Copyright for 1st year PGR • Using Digimap for research students

So...what is the problem?

Spreading the word...Researchers need information on:• Searching and referencing• Depositing e-theses/IR/Copyright• Making their work visible/Bibliometrics• Social media and web resourcesWe know this, but do they?Research Information Network (2006) Researchers and discovery services; Behaviour, perceptions and needs. London: Research Information Network.http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/researchers-and- discovery-services-behaviour-perc

Promotion: pitfalls, problems, perils!• Product packaging: the plan, the process, the pitch, the people• To perfect promotion, these elements first need to be in place• To brand – we need a package to promote

Planning• Timing – what’s needed when• Thinking ahead – the programme calendar• Evolution – building on past experience• The value of feedback – listen to our audience

Process• How we manage it ▫ other stakeholders• Avoiding duplication• Practicalities – coping with demand• LibCal• Value added – Research LibGuide supplements sessions

People• PGR mix: age, culture, ability, expectations• Generic v customised sessions?• Needs and timing – when to deliver information?• One size doesn’t fit all – how to deliver?

Pitch• Content• Speakers ▫ external or internal• Topics ▫ core or one off?

Promoting the product• How do we get the right blend to promote our product? ▫ A successful promotional mix uses a balance of tools in a planned and structured way

A happy ending?The perfect promotional mix?• Brand: Recognition is key!• Meet: Word of mouth – meet the people!• Market: web pages, LibGuides but more! • Know your audience!

Branding• Standard document formats• Standard terminology/jargon• Visuals are crucial to a brand• Blog with PGR contributors• Market the benefits of attendance• Supervisor training: can we be part of it?Research Information Network (2011) The role of research supervisors in information literacy. London: Research Information Network. http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/researcher-development-and- skills/information-handling-training-researchers/research-superv

Meeting our audience• Social aspects are important ▫ create opportunities for networking• Go out to researchers as a ‘road show’ to events already in place• Welcome event for new researchers: periodically, with refreshments, networking, meet Liaison Librarian

Market• Champions in department ▫ departmental mailing lists/PGR mailing lists• Quick Start Guide for researchers• Use professional services staff contacts• Use marketing calendar to market researcher programme• More integration/publicity of modules• Publicise the Research Support LibGuide at sessions

The story goes on...• We’ve come a long way• Still more to do!• Programme has developed a momentum• Will we crack the branding/marketing issue?

Street & Hawksworth - Involve, inform, inspire: reaching researchers through targeted training

by IL Group (CILIP CSG Information Literacy Group)

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