Access to Supplemental Journal Article Materials

Abstract

ABSTRACT The use of supplemental journal article materials is increasing in all disciplines. These materials may be datasets, source code, tables/figures, multimedia, or other materials that previously went unpublished, were attached as appendices, or were included within the body of the work. Current emphasis on critical appraisal and reproducibility demands that researchers have access to the complete life cycle to fully evaluate research. As more libraries become dependent on secondary aggregators and interlibrary loan, we questioned if access to these materials is equitable and sustainable. While NISO RP-15-2013 Recommended Practices for Online Supplemental Journal Article Materials was published in 2013, it is unclear if these recommended practices fully meet the needs of users; if aggregators and publishers are following these standards; and if library processes and procedures are facilitating access to supplemental journal article materials. While studies have surveyed authors, reviewers, and readers, or examined journal supplemental materials practices, no studies have surveyed library staff and librarians about their experience with access to supplemental materials and requesting and receiving supplemental materials through interlibrary loan. This presentation reported on a study surveying library employees from academic, hospital, public and special library settings in the United States about their experiences identifying, finding, and retrieving supplemental journal article materials; and proposes ways that libraries, publishers and aggregators can enable access to the complete published life cycle.