Spanish Academic Libraries Research Articles

Spanish academic libraries’ perceptions of Open Science. Drivers and barriers, level of knowledge and training

This paper reports on the perceptions of Spanish academic libraries regarding Open Science (OS). OS is irrupting into academia and academic librarians need to support researchers. On the other side, researchers need to be ready to change their scientific behaviour in relation to publications and research data. We conducted a focus group with 8 academic librarians. We also sent a survey to (N= 67) academic libraries, obtaining a response rate of 71.6%. In the survey, we asked for drivers and constraints for OS services as well as for any training taking place. Our results show that facilitators are the system relationships (SD = 4.74) and internal promotion of systems relationships (SD = 4.54). In relation to the level of knowledge of OS, both researchers (SD = 3.27) and librarians have a high level in terms of the OA area (SD = 4.15) but little development of the rest of the components of OS. On the other hand, in relation to training librarians, results indicated that OA (SD = 4.79), Open Data (SD = 4.79) and new evaluation models (SD = 4.79) should be part of the training for researchers. The results of the focus group reinforce some of the indicators mentioned. We conclude that academic libraries may train researchers in OS through the acquisition of new skills and trainers-training and with the strategic support of the university. We argue that academic incentives and a change in research accreditation are also needed to shift researchers’ perceptions in relation to OS.

Research data services (RDS) in Spanish academic libraries

Research data services (RDS) are actions undertaken to provide researchers with support, advising, training, information, a technological infrastructure and a regulatory framework with respect to research data management (RDM) throughout the life cycle of the data. The implementation of RDS is an activity that is becoming increasingly important within the functions carried out by academic and research libraries. The aim of this study is to provide a snapshot of the research data services implemented in academic libraries in public universities in Spain, identifying the number and types of services deployed. We conducted a Website Content Analysis of the libraries of the 48 Spanish public universities to discover which RDS they are implementing and promoting. The results show that, despite a lack of institutional policies regarding research data, libraries are deploying these new services, albeit unevenly in terms of both the number of services and the type of support provided. Services related to development of the data management plan (DMP) and preservation of the data in repositories predominate. This inventory is presented as a first step towards learning the level of RDS implementation in Spanish academic libraries, providing a partial perspective and leading the way to exploring other aspects in greater depth in future studies.

Uso de sistemas automatizados en las bibliotecas universitarias españolas

Se estudia el uso de los sistemas de automatización en las bibliotecas universitarias españolas. Se elabora un estudio estadístico con datos sobre los soportes físicos y softwares utilizados, módulos en funcionamiento, formatos de entrada y salida, así como fu entes y mecanismos para la carga de registros en el sistema, estado y métodos de la conversión retrospectiva, uso de nuevas tecnologías, y nuevos servicios implantados desde 1986 en este tipo de bibliotecas. Posteriormente, se analizan los resultados obtenidos y se comparan con datos de 1986 .

Research Support Services in Spanish Academic Libraries: An Analysis of Their Strategic Plans and of an Opinion Survey Administered to Their Directors

The transition from print to digital information has transformed the role of academic libraries, which have had to redefine themselves as intermediaries and partners in the learning and research processes. This study analyzes the evolution and current provision of research support services in Spanish academic libraries through an analysis of the three strategic plans published by the Spanish association of academic libraries (REBIUN) and a survey administered to the library directors. Results show that academic libraries are firmly embedded within universities’ research activities, and that most of them depend on vice-rectorates for research or scientific policy. There is a relationship between the size of the library and its provision of research support services, although no correlation is observed between the size of the library and the staff devoted to research support. Library directors stress the value of institutional repositories, a vision also reflected in the importance assigned to open access in the strategic plans. Other current hot topics, such as data management, do not seem to be among the priorities of Spanish library directors as yet.

Social responsibility and sustainability in Spanish university libraries: questioning the discourse from critical analysis perspectives

The paper focus on a critical analysis of a discursive formation in Spanish academic libraries: social responsibility and sustainability. The concepts that make up the discourse are historically contextualized in order to clarify their origin and social affiliation. Although the enunciation of social responsibility and sustainability content is formulated ambiguously, its articulation as a discursive practice within the framework of the new corporate management university libraries leads us to infer bias in their rhetorical formulation. We consider that, from a fuzzy concept and its integration into technocratic practices, the discourse can be used as a tool for legitimizing the deregulation of public educational institutions.

Gestión de datos geográficos en bibliotecas universitarias españolas: Estado de la cuestión

This paper presents the results of a survey on the management of digital geographic data in Spanish academic libraries. The objective of the research is to discover the state of Spanish university libraries in relation to the management of geographic data, as well as factors that might hinder it. The results reflect the perception of university libraries on their role in managing geographic data in the academic environment.

20 años de automatización de préstamo interbibliotecario en España (1992-2012)

Trends over the past 20 years (1992-2012) of interlibrary lending and document supply (ILDS) automation in Spanish academic libraries are discussed. Taking into account the routines and procedures carried out by ILDS services -document identification, localization, document request, reception of borrowed items and user services or internal management- the article lists the software used in Spanish universities to handle these services, setting it into the context of the evolution of each process in parallel with software developments.

Evaluación de materiales formativos de acceso público elaborados por bibliotecas universitarias españolas

Teaching materials are very important for user-training in libraries. This paper describes and analyses the characteristics of the instructional materials created by Spanish academic libraries. It evaluates a sample of 72 resources in public access by applying 36 indicators grouped in ten categories. Only 24 % of libraries were found to have created such materials, focusing on explaining the sources of information and library services. Only three produced materials addressing information literacy. In general, these instructional materials were of poor quality from an educational point of view (few educational objectives, few exercises to reinforce learning, few pre-tests, and little final assessment) and commonly were little interactive (50 % involved slides and 20 % pdfs). In conclusion, most of these teaching materials appeared to be at an early stage of development and did not allow the user to either completely or autonomously follow the learning process.

E‐books in Spanish academic libraries

PurposeThis study aims to explore the current presence of e‐books in the collections of Spanish academic libraries, from the viewpoint of the contents on offer.Design/methodology/approachExploration of the library web sites was undertaken in order to gauge the level of presence of packages that distribute electronic books. In evaluating the extent of content available, the data recorded were compared with those derived from another research carried out in 2004. Similarly, an approximate indication of the topic areas with greatest representation was attempted, distinguishing multi‐disciplinary suppliers from those specializing in one field.FindingsOut of the 50 existing universities 36 support the subscription of at least one collection of electronic books. The universities of the communities of Andalusia, Catalonia and Valencia are those that have reached a greater implementation of e‐books. There is a considerable diversity – many universities have subscribed to collections specializing in literature and in the field of engineering. The main multi‐disciplinary collections purchased by libraries are E‐libro and NetLibrary.Practical implicationsThis is a sector that is definitely taking off in Spain and will require progressive acceptance on the part of the academic community. Librarians have the responsibility to aid their users in understanding the growing complexity of the information market and the increasing range of resources available for research.Originality/valueThe research is a necessary approach to the integration of collections of e‐books into Spanish public universities. Encouraging the use of monographs in electronic format takes on great importance, when it is borne in mind that e‐books will have a crucial role in the new model for education advocated by the European Higher Education Area (EHEA).

Análisis de la distribución de contenidos electrónicos de Wiley InterScience

A qualitative analysis of Wiley InterScien- ce, service of Wiley & Sons publisher providing elec- tronic scientific contents, references and full texts, subscribed to mainly by Spanish academic libraries. The purpose of this analysis is to evaluate the infor- mation coverage, access architecture, search facili- ties, interface characteristics, functionalities and ad- ded value services, based on the subscription held by Bucle, the consortium of Castilla y Leon academic li- braries.

The Spanish Academic Libraries Network (REBIUN)

This article presents the evolution of the Spanish Academic Libraries Network (REBIUN), an association integrated into CRUE (Spanish University Presidents Conference). REBIUN represents and supports all Spanish academic and research libraries, and the organisation has recently drafted and approved a new Strategic Plan for 2003-2006 revising its mission and future vision.