Abstract
Librarians support research in a wide variety of ways. However, librarians may not always receive recognition for the valuable contributions they make to the research life cycle or research environments. In higher education institutions (HEIs), librarians face competition from other professional support services in addition to external organizations and suppliers. This article provides an analysis of submissions made by HEIs to the UK’s Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014 and demonstrates that the work of librarians is rarely acknowledged in substantive ways, particularly in STEM disciplines. It provides an overview of the multiple ways in which librarians contribute to research environments as well as how they can practically contribute to the REF 2021 submission process and other research assessment processes. Librarians have developed a wide range of responsive and innovative support services over the last decade and REF 2021 is demonstrated to be an opportunity for librarians to gain recognition for the important role they play in UK HEIs.
Highlights
Sector surveys and commentators have asserted that the dividing lines are becoming increasingly blurred between the work done in support of research by librarians and staff in other parts of the university.[1]
‘the Research Excellence Framework (REF) seems to offer a significant opportunity for librarians to be proactive in articulating the value they provide value they provide to an institution
I hope to demonstrate that the REF can act as an opportunity for librarians to more proactively articulate the ‘business-critical’ nature of the work performed in libraries to university senior management teams
Summary
Sector surveys and commentators have asserted that the dividing lines are becoming increasingly blurred between the work done in support of research by librarians and staff in other parts of the university.[1]. I hope to demonstrate that the REF can act as an opportunity for librarians to more proactively articulate the ‘business-critical’ nature of the work performed in libraries to university senior management teams. It is first worth outlining in summary how REF 2021 will function.[7] An institution is essentially awarded funding based upon an assessment of the quality of its research, research impact and research environment. In outlining the REF process above, there are many clear areas where librarians can usefully contribute This includes providing advice about bibliometrics and indicators, for example advising research office staff and academics about what indicators are appropriate and how they are calculated and may be used. More than two sentences where the institution’s libraries or librarians are referenced or discussed explicitly in relation to their contribution to the research environment.[15]
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