Research Support in Australian University Libraries: An Outsider View

This study examines the ongoing changes within Australian university libraries to support research. After establishing the reasons for focusing so strongly on research support, this study gives an overview of the adjustments made to libraries' service portfolios and the changes in the roles and responsibilities of subject or liaison librarians. Throughout the study, in-depth comparisons are drawn to the developments in Europe, in particular to the situation in the UK, Switzerland and Germany. This study identifies and discusses five research support services: institutional repositories, open access, bibliometrics and enhancement of research impact, support for research students and research data management. It then examines how these services are resourced and embedded in the library. The study reveals three measures or approaches that were taken by senior management to build up and sustain efficient and effective research support services: (1) rationalisation of student services, (2) focusing activities of liaison librarians on research support and creation of subject-specific teams to achieve better effectivity and efficiency gains, and (3) definition of new positions responsible for research support. In the ‘Conclusion’ section, the author asks to what extent Australian libraries are influenced by government and university policies, or whether Australian librarians are free to set their own priorities.