Research Information Management Systems

Abstract

Research information management systems (RIMS) are the emerging new service in academic and research libraries. RIMS support universities and libraries in managing their institute, faculty, and researcher information through a single interface. They also allow the researcher to deposit and share their research with the public and enable the reuse of that research. An implementation of RIMS in universities or libraries ensures the proper management of research information for future use. RIMS disseminates research information and publications and supports data, academic, and administrative work by faculty and researchers. Traditionally, an institutional repository, digital library, and research data management software were used to manage research information as part of an institutional repository, but these applications have failed to manage more specialist researcher information and more detailed faculty profiles, etc. Consequently, various specialist software companies have brought RIMS onto the market with applications and products that meet the requirements of individual researchers, libraries, and universities in the management of research information. This chapter provides a comparative evaluation of RIMS (i.e., PURE-Elsevier, Converis-Thomson Routers, and Symplectic Elements). This study contributes towards an understanding of RIMS and assists with the selection of the appropriate software application for implementation of a RIMS system in universities and libraries.