Value Added: A Case Study of Research Impact Services

Abstract:What are the ways in which library-provided bibliometric services add value to the research enterprise? Tasked with developing a program to assess and improve research impact services at Indiana University Bloomington, the open scholarship librarian launched a research impact offering in fall 2019, with positive results. Research impact services help faculty see the full significance of their work, equip them with tools to demonstrate and advocate for the value of their scholarship, and often provide unexpected insights. Bibliometric analysis can also benefit library units, particularly in supporting administrative decision-making in interactions with publishers and in seeing publishing trends to make collection management decisions. Service development in this area has the potential to deepen library engagement with the campus community. It might also promote collaboration between librarians in functional roles and those who serve as subject specialists.