The role of the research library

Abstract

ABSTRACT Research libraries see themselves as being in the forefront of moves to extend, exploit and promote new forms of scholarly communication. The advent of the digital environment has created new opportunities for librarians to act as protagonists, advocates and innovators. The role of research librarians now extends beyond being facilitators, brokers and guardians, to working as champions of change for the benefit of the whole research community. Nationally and internationally, libraries are engaged in collaborative initiatives to find the best ways to support the research process and extend affordable access to the rapidly growing volume of resources that is now available. This chapter reviews the role of research libraries in responding to an increasingly complex research environment, and the response of libraries to the acceleration of digital publishing, escalating costs and the long-term preservation needs of research outputs, as well as their positioning in the debates on Open Access and research data management. Research libraries are bringing knowledge and professional expertise to the task of enhancing the effectiveness of the research environment, which is placing them in the role of advocates and service integrators. The success of this activity has been underpinned by a strengthening of the natural tendency of research libraries to form strong collaborative networks that can share knowledge, pursue joint initiatives and work co-operatively. Introduction Research libraries see themselves as being in the forefront of moves to extend, exploit and promote new forms of scholarly communication. This is not surprising, since their position as guardians of the scholarly record stretches back centuries, and libraries have often combined long-term perspectives with a commitment to innovation. The advent of the digital environment has created new opportunities for librarians to act as protagonists, advocates and innovators. The role of research librarians now extends beyond being facilitators, brokers and guardians, to working with other stakeholders as champions of change for the benefit of the whole research community. The pace of change in the landscape of scholarly communication has created both significant opportunities and interesting challenges. The adoption of whole new areas of activity has transformed the way that research libraries position themselves.