NASIG 2014

The library setting has undergone a groundbreaking shift in the way that end-users obtain scholarly information. When it comes to discovering content, librarians have found themselves in an environment where their end-users favor convenience over quality. However, end-users are not always satisfied with the results which stem from free search engines that overlook optimal resources. How can librarians add a personal touch to their library services to improve scholarly information so that quality research is not compromised?

Taylor & Francis recently commissioned follow-up work to our White Paper (presented at the 2013 NASIG Conference in Buffalo, New York) specifically examining how to meet user needs and expectations in the library. Our findings revealed that 65% of survey respondents take a reactive approach to conducting user-research in the library to understand their end-users' resource needs relying on professors or university faculty to approach library staff with requests. A respondent from a recent survey conducted by Taylor & Francis states, "There is a need to promote all of the library services; some users do not know even the most basic services they can use at our library." How can we bridge this gap that exists between the library and the end-user to improve scholarly communication?

Elyse Profera and Renée N. Jefferson, Ph.D, will present best practices around personalizing the overall library experience. Primary research will draw from Taylor & Francis' marketing trends, a case study designed to evaluate marketing strategies used by an academic library, semi-structured interviews, and e-surveys used to conduct formative and summative assessments. The presentation will additionally cover strategies on how publishers can partner with libraries to facilitate scholarly communication amongst end-users.