Supporting Researchers at LJMU

Valerie Stevenson
Head of Academic Services
Library Services
 Outline
• LJMU research profile

• Library support for researchers

– Information Resources
– Training
– Open Access Publishing
– Promotion, including Research Cafes

• Planned new facilities in Copperas Hill

 LJMU REF Performance 2008 and 2014
Source: Times Higher Education tables

RankInstitution RankInstitution
61University of Salford 61Soas, University of London
62University of Bradford 62Liverpool John Moores University
=63Brunel University
62 nd =63Sheffield Hallam University
=63De Montfort University =63University of the Highlands and Islands
65Birmingham City University 65University of Portsmouth
=66St George's Hospital Medical School =66University of Westminster
=66Edinburgh College of Art =66Plymouth University
=68University of Portsmouth =66Manchester Metropolitan University
=68University of East London 69Bournemouth University
=68London South Bank University =70University of East London
71University of Westminster =70Northumbria University
=72Roehampton University =72University of Hull
=72University of the West of England, Bristol =72University of the West of England
=72Oxford Brookes University =72Kingston University
=75University of Plymouth =75Brunel University London
=75Bournemouth University =75De Montfort University
=75Middlesex University =75Glasgow Caledonian University
=78Manchester Metropolitan University =75Coventry University
=78Nottingham Trent University 79Oxford Brookes University
=78University of Winchester =80Queen Margaret University
=81Liverpool John Moores University =80University of Huddersfield
=81University of Northumbria at Newcastle 82Birmingham City University
81st
 LJMU Research Units
Source: LJMU Research and Innovation Services

UoA Subject
26 Sport and Exercise Sciences
9 Physics
29 English Language and Literature
3 Allied Health Professions
34 Art and Design: History, Practice and Theory
22 Social Work and Social Policy
13 Electrical and Electronic Engineering
25 Education
36 Communication, Cultural and Media Studies
4 Psychology, Psychiatry and Neuroscience
30 History
16 Architecture, Built Environment and Planning
24 Anthropology and Development Studies
20 Law
12 Aero, Mech, Chem and Manufacturing Engineering
15 General Engineering
11 Computer Science and Informatics
 Library staff: research support
• Head of Academic Services
– Academic Liaison Manager
– Research Support Manager
– Research Support Librarian
– Open Access and Digital Scholarship Librarian
– Academic Liaison Librarians

• Support from Library Content and Digital Strategy Team

• Work closely with LJMU Research & Innovation Services

and Graduate School
Information Resources

Image sources: LJMU Archives; Elsevier, Thomson Reuters

 Print and electronic resources
• Research analytics: Journal Citation Reports, InCites,
SciVal

• Prioritise key research areas in journal spending:

Astrophysics, Sports Science, Engineering

• Investment in electronic archives in Humanities and

Social Sciences

• Purchases of Special Collections and Archives

Training for Researchers

Source: Vitae Researcher Development Framework

 Training for Researchers
• Partnership with LJMU Graduate School
• Researcher Induction Programme
• Overview session, one-to-one follow-ups
• Scheduled sessions on Managing References,
Endnote, E-thesis submission
• Planning sessions on Bibliometrics, Altmetrics,
Social Media for Researchers
Open Access Publishing

Source: LJMU Research Online

 Open Access Publishing
• Collaboration with Research & Innovation
Services
• E-theses repository
• LJMU Research Online
• Setting up LJMU Research Data Service
 Promotional activities
• Library Roadshows in Faculty Buildings
• Open Access advocacy campaign
• Exhibitions and research seminars with Special
Collections and Archives
• Facebook, blog, twitter
• Presence at events: LJMU Research Week
• Research Cafes
Research Cafés
 Café Philosophique
• Long tradition: London and
Vienna coffee houses, Paris
Left Bank

• 1990s Paris: Marc Sautet’s

Cafés-Philo idea spread
around the world

• Café Scientifique began in Source: www.acropole.ca

Leeds 1998, similar idea for

science and technology

• Examples in universities
and cities worldwide
 Development Phase
• Original idea from LJMU Director of
Research, Professor Andy Young, 2012
• Informal seminars with coffee and cake
• Short talks aimed at the lay person
• Promote awareness of the range of
research carried out at LJMU
 Research Café Format
• Two-hour session, Wednesday afternoons,
once a month
• Informality, discussion encouraged
• 2-4 speakers: allocated 10-20 minutes
each, interdisciplinary, mix of early career
researchers and very experienced staff
• Started 2012: new Vice-Chancellor one of
the first speakers
http://ljmulibrary.wordpress.com/
LJMU YouTube channel: playlist
Christmas Café at Liverpool Central Library
Planning for the future

Image: A Connected University Village, LJMU

Copperas Hill

Images: Valerie Stevenson

 Library wish list (1)

• Silent study area

• A quiet study
environment

• Good printing facilities

• 24/7 access
Image: Picton Reading Room, Liverpool Central Library

• Large desk spaces

 Library wish list (2)

• PCs/laptops

• Group work space

• Specialist
computers/software

• Staff presence Image: Bournemouth University Library

• Out of hours assistance

Comments and Questions
Valerie Stevenson
v.stevenson@ljmu.ac.uk
@Library_Val