In addition to identifying new ways that information professionals can have an impact on the success of advanced technology projects, they are continually trying out new approaches to convey the value of information services to R&D staff. Information professionals need to break down the old associations users have of libraries with stacks of print materials, and to be seen as the recognized experts in information searching, analysis and management.
Catch people when they are in the initial stages of their research, so they get us involved in the process early on
Several of the librarians interviewed focus on maintaining a presence wherever their users congregate, either virtually or in person. The librarian in the aerospace field said, “We have a virtual presence on our internal innovation center’s website, linking people to the relevant analytical tools in the library, which has been very effective. And when our organization held hackathons in person, I would bring my laptop and promote us as the R&D Library. Our goal has always been to catch people when they are in the initial stages of their research, so they get us involved in the process early on.”
The pharma librarian explained her three-step approach: “Communicating our value in an R&D setting comes down to push, pull and wait. Sometimes you have to push a bit to get what you need—a new tool or resource, for example. Sometimes you have to pull people a bit to get them to use that tool, to understand when it could help them accomplish something new. And then you have to wait for the right opportunity, when you see a situation where that tool will have a big impact on the success of a project. You have to be ready when the opportunity comes.”
Communicating our value in an R&D setting comes down to push, pull and wait
Interestingly, the librarian at an energy company takes the approach that collaboration with R&D teams can go both ways. “Not only do we partner with project teams to help them acquire the right resources,” she said, “but we also reach out to our user groups when we are evaluating a new or renewing subscription. We ask some of our super users what they value the most about a particular resource and when during the research process they use that tool. Through these conversations, we get a better sense of the use cases for the resource and we demonstrate to some of our most influential users how much thought and evaluation goes into acquiring an information resource.”
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