The document discusses altmetrics and how libraries can support altmetrics. It provides an overview of altmetrics, how researchers can find and analyze altmetrics data, and different types of library support like research guides, workshops, and institutional tools. Recent developments discussed include NISO working groups seeking to standardize altmetrics and case studies of altmetrics implementations in STEM fields like the American Mathematical Society and Becker Medical Library model.

1. Altmetrics in STEM libraries
STS Webinar
October 15, 2015
Rachel Borchardt
Science Librarian, American University
borchard@american.edu

2. In this talk
Altmetrics overview
Library support models
Recent developments

3. What are altmetrics?
The creation and study of new metrics based on the social web for analyzing and informing
scholarship.
Altmetrics.org

4. Finding/analyzing altmetrics
Journal article usage
Web of Science (new!)
Taylor & Francis
PLOS
Elsevier
Scholarly networks
Individual sites
Altmetrics tools

5. Using altmetrics
Research Assessment
 Often attention or engagement, but some correlations with
citation/impact
Showcase achievements
 Tenure, promotion, grant funding
Aligns well with “broader impact” demonstration
Discovery
 Finding relevant research, appropriate publication venues, and
potential collaborators

6. Types of library support
Research Guides
Workshops
Individual consultations
Symposia
Institutional tools

7. Research Guides
 Example: UNC Health Sciences
library research guide
 Basic information for researchers
with links to more advanced
information
 Direction for future: guides
customized by discipline

8. Workshops Fall 2012
 Target to relevant audiences
 Package with other relevant topics
“Maximizing Research Impact”
 Choosing a publication
 Maximizing exposure
 Measuring impact/engagements
 Slides: http://tinyurl.com/ntsswl8
 Future – packaged “menu” of topics
for customized presentations /
workshops
 OA, IRs, author rights, scholarly networks, etc.
Fall 2015

9. Side note: MyRI, an online bibliography toolkit
 http://www.ndlr.ie/myri/

10. Consultations
• Advertise possible
services, available
materials and points
of contact
• Word of mouth often
effective
• Again, customize to
disciplines

11. Symposia
 Outside experts
speak on a range
of relevant topics
 Scholarly
Communication is
a common theme
 Some libraries host
faculty-led
presentations
 Connect with
library support

12. Institutional altmetrics adoption
 PlumX and Altmetric offer
tools
 Designed to facilitate
assessment and showcase
achievements at high level
 More details about Pitt
library’s PlumX
implementation here:
http://d-
scholarship.pitt.edu/19115/

13. What’s happening now
NISO Altmetrics Working Groups
Current research
 Correlations
 Disciplinary outcomes
STEM implementations of metrics
 American Mathematical Society
 Becker Model of biomedical research output

14. NISO Altmetrics Working Groups
Definitions and Case Uses
Improving and Standardizing Metrics Data
Metrics and Calculation Methodologies
End goals (my opinion)
improve reliability
standardize what we can
increase stakeholder confidence/trust in altmetrics

15. Current Research
 Discipline-specific analysis of
altmetrics
 Larger correlations between
different metrics

16. STEM Implementations: American
Mathematical Society
• 2009 Statement, The Culture of
Research and Scholarship in
Mathematics: Citation and Impact
in Mathematical Publications
• Executive summary – impact
factor is largely irrelevant to our
field, and here’s why
• http://www.ams.org/profession/le
aders/culture/CultureStatement09.
pdf

17. STEM Implementations: Becker Medical Library Model
 https://becker.wustl.edu/sites/default/files/becker_model-reference.pdf

18. Thank you!
Rachel Borchardt
borchard@american.edu
202-885-3657
@ButternutSquash