With substantial changes in academic publishing models, as well as changing dynamics in research projects, faculty are collaborating more and more with librarians in publishing and scholarship. Alternative publishing systems set within libraries, including institutional repositories, library-based university presses, and open educational resources, are appealing to faculty because of their “solid infrastructure” of metadata development, rights management, and cost savings. As competent colleagues who do not pose a threat in the competitive arena of tenure and promotion, librarians serve as effective research partners and co-investigators.
Survey
What are librarians doing well?
PALNI is actively developing the following publishing and scholarship resources for faculty:
Institutional repositories: CONTENTdm and IslandDora
Library-based university press: PALNIPress instances of Open Journal Systems, Open Monograph Press, and Open Conference Systems
Open educational resources: PALSave
Librarian scholarship: RIO Scholarly Writing Group
What can librarians improve on?
Many of the tools listed for publishing and scholarship are new and still unfamiliar to many faculty. For example, faculty may be aware of open educational resources, but not aware of the PALSave program. Along with library directors giving awareness of these tools to provost and deans, Librarians should utilize their liaison duties to promote these services with faculty.
What surprises us?
When asked "In what ways have a librarian contacted you in an attempt to learn more about your teaching and research interests?" the top response given by faculty at 25% was to attend departmental engagements outside of library hours. This was greater than invitations out to coffee/lunch or emails with articles of personal interest.