Minding the skills gap
Developments in information‐training
handling for researchers in the UK
Aaron Griffiths

Understanding and
promoting the information
needs of researchers

“We build too many walls and not
enough bridges”

About the RIN
Policy, guidance and support on:
• search and discovery
• access and use of information services
• scholarly communications
• digital content and e‐research
• collaborative collection management and
storage

Published
July 2008
UK focus
Research by
AimTech Ltd
Ongoing work

Information skills
• Using electronic repositories
• Using subject‐based portals / gateways
• Using appropriate search engines
• Obtaining research papers and data
• Finding research material in the Library
• Evaluating research information
• Bibliographical citation
• Citing websites
• Managing information generated through research
• Retaining and preserving research information
• Open access to research reports
• Licensing and copyright issues
• Developments in metadata

National‐level strategies and
responsibilities

LIS Academics
Information literacy Research
information
methodologies and
tools’

Institutional level strategies and
responsibilities
• Strategic thinking about the place of
information training within the wider training
provision?
• Attempts to align library, information and
training strategies with broader institutional
research strategies?
• Moves towards an integrated approach?

“It is difficult to
contribute if you are
not an active
researcher. You need
to be able to show
how you would apply
(for example
RefWorks) in your own
research. It’s about
understanding the
ramifications of
research.”

Scale, organisation and content of
library provision
Information Evaluating,
organising,
seeking managing,
transforming or
Citation of communicating
sources information
Key underpinning
Portfolio of issues such as
services copyright and open
access
provided

Topics covered in the training events which
library staff provide or contribute to

Good practice
• Clear objectives and marketing to target audiences
• Regular communication with researchers, and exploitation of
researchers’ peer‐to‐peer networks
• Collaboration between library staff and researchers
• Inclusion of library‐based events in central staff development
programmes
• Continuance where practicable of one‐to‐one support
• Training provision that goes beyond information seeking to
address broader information issues

Approaches to training
• Range of different approaches used
• Blended approaches: e‐learning + face‐to‐face
training
• Skills developed within a subject‐specific
context
• Specific to career‐stage

Exploiting e‐learning
Evidence of effectiveness?
May be useful in meeting the needs of
categories of researchers (including contract
research staff and part‐time researchers)

Evaluating training needs
• Few systematic attempts to assess
researchers’ training needs
• Beyond surveys: focus groups, self‐assessment
& e‐portfolios
• Weak monitoring mechanisms

Library capacities
Shifting roles of librarians…
Confidence gap?

Current RIN
activities
• 16 July 2009 event
• Securing more coverage of information skills
in training programmes
• Sharing good practice
• Improving communication and promoting
joint planning

aaron.griffiths@rin.ac.uk
Thank you