APPENDIX 1
Review of Scholarly Communications
Presentation in UK Higher Education Library
Portals
Introduction
This short review was conducted to inform the Scoping Report for a UK Scholarly
Communications Portal.
The library websites of six UK Higher Education (HE) institutions were reviewed to
establish
 How scholarly communications resources are organised and presented on
HE sites
 Common themes in the organisation and presentation of these resources
 Gaps in provision of these resources
 The terminology used to describe scholarly communication resources
The results of the report should help to frame the context within which a UK
Scholarly Communications Portal would operate; the content, structure and
terminology it should employ to complement the existing UK HE library portals
and also any gaps in scholarly communication provision the Portal might
fulfill/exploit.
Institutions Reviewed
Two institutions were chosen randomly from the following three groups of HE
institutions in an effort to review a range of library websites or portals.
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Russell Group Institutions
o University of Bristol http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/library/
o University of Warwick
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/main
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1994 Group
o School of Oriental and African Studies, University of London
http://www.soas.ac.uk/library/
o University of York http://www.york.ac.uk/library/
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Post 1992 Universities
o Manchester Metropolitan University
http://www.library.mmu.ac.uk/index.html
o University of Huddersfield http://www.hud.ac.uk/cls/
Overview of Scholarly Communications Presentation
For the purposes of this review local resources only available to or of interest to
the local institution were not included. These resources typically included
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Exam papers
Course materials
Short loan collections
Local information, e.g. contacts, addresses
Local access and authentication details
Common Services
Services which were common to all the sites reviewed included
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Inter-Library Loan (ILL) and document supply
News feeds or announcements
Ask a Librarian type reference services
Site search
High Level Structure
Most of the websites have a small number of high level headings under which
scholarly resources are organised. Although there is a general commonality
among these headings, slightly different terminology is used to describe similar
areas. The following categorises these main headings and lists the terms used
1) Collections; Resources; Electronic Resources; Electronic Library; Electronic
Library Resources; Key Information
2) Subject Resources and Support; Subjects; Subject Guides; Subject
Resources; Electronic Subject Resources; Your Subject
3) Library Catalogue
4) MetaLib Resource Gateway; MetaLib (where available)
5) Support for Research; Information for Researchers; Support for
Researchers
6) Finding and Using Information; Information Literacy; Information Skills
and Training (sometimes at the top level, sometimes deeper in the site)
1) Collections…
This area generally includes lists of or links to scholarly resources organised by
resource type such as:
Library Catalogue; Books; eBooks; Electronic Books; Journals; Electronic
Journals; Theses and Dissertations; Databases; Cross search facilities, e.g.
MetaLib or SFX; Newspapers; Indexes and Bibliographies; Bibliographies and
Reviews; Government Publications; Statistics; Maps; Microforms; Audio-Visual
(AV) Materials; Patents; Standards; Quick Reference Tools; Reference
Collections; Reports; Institutional Repository; Special Collections; Useful
Websites; Internet Gateways; Academic Search Engines; Online Tutorials; Help in
Finding Journal Articles; Help in Finding Books
Certain types of resources, such as the Library Catalogue; Books; Journals;
Databases and the Cross Search tools receive more attention.
Books:
 Directions for finding print and e-books on the Library Catalogue
 Directions for finding e-books on web search of subscription e-books
 E-books by subject via MetaLib
 Lists of subscription and free e-book collections
Journals:
 Directions for finding print and e-journals on the Library Catalogue
 Directions for finding e-journals on web search/browse of subscription ejournals titles, e.g. Find It! SFX web search to find journal titles or articles
using citation details
 A-Z list of titles
 Journals by subject area
 List of subscription and free e-journal collections
Cross-Search Services, e.g. MetaLib, SFX
 Information on what can be searched
 Information on how to search
Databases
 A-Z lists
 Subject guide
 Cross-Search service
2) Subject Resources…
Provides list of resources organised by subject. The granularity of the subjects
differed between institutions and also depended on their level of subject
speciality.
In some cases the subject was subdivided into information for different users,
e.g. undergraduates, postgraduates, academic staff but in general it was mainly
subdivided by resource type similar to the Collections area, e.g.
 Reference tools or sources, e.g. dictionaries, encylopaedias
 Classification marks for relevant printed books
 Databases (full text and bibliographic)
 Bibliographies
 Key Journals
 Ebook Collections
 Newspapers, news sites, news services
 Websites
 Internet Gateways
 Internet Directories
 Weblogs
 Special collections
 Research libraries, institutes, societies, organisations
 Information literacy guides and tutorials, e.g. on using Medline
 Current awareness services
In some cases the subject areas were linked to subject configured search on
Cross-Search services
3) Library Catalogue
Includes information about
 What the catalogue includes
 Guides/tutorials on searching the catalogue
 Links to other catalogues, e.g. SUNCAT, local catalogues
4) MetaLib Resource Gateway…
Not all of the institutions subscribe to MetaLib or an equivalent service, but where
they do. Information provided includes
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What MetaLib is searching
Subject configured searches
Searches configured by resource type, e.g. articles, websites, books
Article search
Searching or browsing for particular resources, e.g. journals or databases
by title or subject
5) Support for Research…
In some websites this was a prominent high level area, in others a smaller area
beneath headings such as Subject Resources and Support; Information for
Researchers and in others this type of information was scattered among other
headings and sub-headings.
General information includes
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Advice on RAE publications submission
Links to Research Councils
UK funding sites
Research ethics
Disseminating research
Getting published
Citation analysis
Literature searching
Keeping up to date, e.g. saved searches, ToC alerts, Conferences
Links to Research communities
Resources (again by type and subject)
Electronic Theses Online
Managing references
Guides to writing
Reference Management Tools, e.g. EndNote
Books on research process
Websites on research methods
Statistics (data sets; data services; data websites)
Copyright and IPR
Local information includes
 Database of expertise and current research
 Institutional repository
 Research Exchange centre
 Research/Special collections
6) Information Literacy
This area has some overlap with the previous section but is also useful for
undergraduates. Again it appears as a separate high level section on some sites
or it sometimes appears deeper within sites or the information is scattered under
a number of headings.
Information includes:
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Information literacy guides
Resource guides and tutorials, demos
Search tips
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Literature searching
Citing references
Managing references
Evaluating information sources
Evaluating results
Copyright and IPR
Guides to researching a topic
Current awareness
Information skills and training
Help and training
Online tutorials, e.g. library catalogue, using journals, evaluating websites,
infoskills
Implications for the UK Scholarly Communications
Portal
Two of the above areas were less consistently represented on the HE library
websites reviewed and therefore represent potential areas for a UK Scholarly
Communications Portal to address.
 Research Support
 Information Literacy/Information Skills
Overlap exists between these two areas but there are also subjects distinct to one
or other of the areas, e.g. information on research funding, research ethics,
resource guides, search tips.
If the Portal aims to follow a similar structure to the existing HE library portals, it
should include
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Resources organised by type, e.g. journals, books, databases, websites,
newspapers
Resources organised by subject
Issues such as to how to provide useful or institutional listings of subscription
resources should be discussed in the Portal Scoping Report but certainly providing
a comprehensive listing of freely available or open access resources would be
useful. Any attempt to provide resource listings, particularly by subject, would
have major maintenance and therefore ongoing resourcing implications.
All the HE library sites included a Library Catalogue for searching, locating and
sometimes accessing locally held or subscribed resources. This would suggest
that prominent links to the UK national union catalogues, COPAC and SUNCAT as
well as the British Library would be useful. A cross search of COPAC and SUNCAT
should also be investigated.
Most of the sites provide an A-Z browse listing of journal titles and databases, as
well as subject listings and the ability to search for journal titles or databases, in
addition to metasearch services such as MetaLib. However a UK Scholarly
Communications Portal would not be able to provide this type of search of
subscription resources without UK wide licensing agreements. Again the Portal
Scoping Report should discuss the possibility of providing a metasearch of open
access material which could include journals, books, websites etc.
Finally the review suggests that the portal should provide some form of news
service and/or announcements feature, potentially aggregated from relevant
news services. This could include an RSS feed of newly added links or resources
to add a current awareness element to the Portal.
Appendix
University of Bristol Library
http://www.bristol.ac.uk/is/library/
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under a
number of headings on the Library homepage
Collections
This leads to pages on collections categorised primarily by resource type:
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Books; Journals; Short Loan Collection; Theses and dissertations; Course
based materials; Electronic information; Bibliographies and reviews;
Government publications; Statistics; Other non-book materials, including
visual materials; Patents; Standards; Quick reference tools; Reports;
Bristol Respository of Scholarly Eprints; Library Store; Special collections.
Find books
Library catalogue
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Covers print journals, books, DVDs, limited eBooks
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Web keyword search and browse of Bristol’s subscription eBooks.
Links to additional subscription services, e.g. EEBO, ECCO, Legal
classics library, Oxford scholarship online
Links to free services, e.g. Google Book Search, Illuminated Middle
Ages, The Open Library
eBooks
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Find journals
Print journals
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Links to library catalogue
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Web keyword search and browse of Bristol’s subscription eJournals
Links to additional subscription services, e.g. British Periodicals,
Business Source Complete, Westlaw full-text article journals
eJournals
MetaLib Resource Gateway
Enables cross searching of free and subscription resources. Options include:
 cross searches of resources configured into particular subject areas
 cross searches of resources by material type, e.g. books, journal titles,
grey literature, library catalogues, selected internet resources etc.
Also enables users to search for particular resources, e.g. databases, journal titles
etc.
Internet searching
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Provides links to web subject gateways, e.g. Intute, Pinakes, British
Academy Portal, Scirus, Social Science Research Network.
Also links to search engines, including general search engines and
academic & science search engines, e.g. Google Scholar, Scirus, Science
Research, CrossRef Search
Subject resources & support
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Provides resources and help on researching around 50 different subject
areas.
Each area provides targeted information to different users:
undergraduates, postgraduates and academic staff, including information
literacy guides, contacts etc.
Provides recommendations of relevant reference tools, library collections,
databases, news and internet links.
Provides 6 step guide to researching a topic: Starting out, Quick search,
Advanced search, Evaluating results, Writing up, Keeping up to date.
Finding & using information
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Provides guidance on conducting researches, including search tips,
information literacy, copyright.
University of Warwick Library
http://www2.warwick.ac.uk/services/library/main
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under two
main headings on the Library homepage.
Resources
This page offers resources categorised by resource type:
Library Catalogue:
 Includes books, journals, reports, e-resources.
 Links to other library catalogues, e.g. Copac, SUNCAt
Databases:
 A-Z list of databases
Journals:
 Web title keyword search and title browse of e-journals.
 Journals also categorised into 13 broad subject areas
 Links to other full text e-journal subscription collections, e.g. Ebsco,
JSTOR, ScienceDirect
 Links to OA services, Open J-Gate, OpenDOAR
Books:
 A-Z list of ebook collections with some large reference texts mixed in
Newspapers
 List of news sites, newspapers and magazines
Research Pro
 Cross search of multiple databases for articles, websites, books and
images. Login required.
Useful Websites
 List of general reference/directory type websites, non-subject specific
Subjects
Provides resources on around 35 different subject areas. Each area provides
 Cross search of relevant selected databases
 List of relevant electronic resources, including databases, journal
aggregators, websites
 List of relevant class marks for finding relevant printed books
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List of relevant library staff and library blog on that area
Tutorials on using relevant resources, e.g. Medline
Support for Research
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Research Exchange site provides:
o Research Space
o Research Communities
o Research Support
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Provides information on who is undertaking what research at Warwick
using MyProfile System to access the GENIUS database of expertise.
Research Excellence website also gives access to the institution’s research
expertise, providing information on funding opportunities and search for
academic collaborators.
Warwick Research Archive Project – research repository
Advice on RAE publications submission
Links to Research Councils UK, EndNote
Links to relevant library staff by subject area
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School of Oriental and African Studies
http://www.soas.ac.uk/library/
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under a
number of headings on the Library homepage
Library Catalogue
Contains information on books, journals and other materials. Also links to
 Archive catalogue
 Other Library catalogues, e.g. research libraries in London, national
catalogues/services, international catalogues/services
Subject Guides
Provides resources on around 20 different subjects in the area of Asian and
African scholarship. Each area provides a range of the following:
 General information about the relevant collections, including audio clip
description
 List of key journals
 Information about relevant special collections
 List of relevant websites
 List of research libraries or institutes with strong collections in relevant
subjects
 List of relevant bibliographic/full text databases and bibliographies
 List of relevant Internet gateways
 List of web reference resources
 List of relevant online publications
 List of relevant online newssites
 List of relevant organisations
 List of research skills and teaching materials
 List of film, sound and visual materials
 More specific subject guides
Electronic Resources
Links to
 Library catalogue
 Archive catalogue
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List of indexes and bibliographies
A-Z list of electronic journals
A-Z of databases
Information on accessing subscription e-books and list of free e-books
List of Internet gateways
Virtual reference desk
Information on current awareness
Information on information skills and training
University of York Library
http://www.york.ac.uk/library/
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under a
number of headings on the Library homepage
Information For…
Different user groups including
 Alumni
 Current students
 Disability services
 New students
 NHS Staff
 Researchers
 Teaching Staff
 Visitors
Information for researchers includes
 UK Funding sites
 Research ethics
 Disseminating research
 Getting published
 Citation analysis
 Process of literature searching
 Resources
 Keeping up to date
 Help and training
 List of book on research process, finding information etc.
Services and Facilities
Includes information on
 Information literacy teaching
Libraries
Lists
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Local libraries
UK university libraries
Collections
Includes:
 Audiovisual
o Music & DVD collections
 Books
o Print
o Electronic: links to subscription collections and free books
 Government publications
 Journals
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o Print: on catalogue
o Electronic: on catalogue and A-Z list
Key texts (course texts)
Maps
Microforms
Maps
Newspapers online A-Z list
Reference collections
Research and Special Collections
Slides
Statistics
o Datasets
o Data services
o UK Data websites
Theses
o Local
o Databases
Electronic Library
Includes
 CD-ROM databases
 Databases
o A-Z list
o Subject guide
o Link to MetaLib
 Electronic journals
o A-Z list
o Web search for journal titles (SFX)
o Publishers’ collections of electronic journals
o Directories of electronic journals (free?)
o Discussions and projects on electronic journals and publishing
o Selected articles on electronic journal publishing
 Electronic books
o Subscription collections
o Links to free books/collections
 Jorum
o Using
o Contributing
 Online Newspapers
o UK
o Local
o International
o Directories of newspapers
o Online news services
 Online tutorials
o Introduction to library
o Library catalogue
o Using journals
o Evaluating websites
 Institutional respository
Subject Resources
Links to resources in 8 general areas
 Electronic reference sources
 Finding information on the Internet
o Directories
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o Searching
o Weblogs
o Media and current affairs
Higher education
o General HE sites
o Reform of UK HE
o Funding and research
o Organisations
o Publications
o Teaching and learning projects and resources
Infoskills tutorials
Library and publishing resources
o Library catalogues
o Online booksellers
o Publishers
o Directories of publishers
Research methods and resources
o General sites about research methods
o KUTD with research
o Evaluating information resources
o Guides to grammar and writing
o Citing print and electronic publications
o Managing references
o Ethical guidelines for researchers
o Local resources
Travel information sources
Links to resources in around 30 broad subject areas
Each area contains a range of information including lists of:
 Electronic journals
 Databases and datasets
 Directories of resources
 Societies and other organisations
 Teaching and learning
 Useful websites
 Reference sources
 News services
 Special collections
 Preprints
Library Catalogue
MetaLib Gateway
Enables
 Search/browse for databases
 Search/browse for ejournals
 Metasearch for articles
Manchester Metropolitan University
http://www.library.mmu.ac.uk/index.html
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under a
number of headings on the Library homepage.
Key Information
Library Catalogue
Search for books, journals, theses, videos and DVDs.
Electronic Subject Resources
Subject guides for around 80 subjects. Each contains a selection of the following
links
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Subject databases and full-text resources
Images
Subject gateways/hubs, e.g. Intute
Online tutorials
Library guides
The Library guides also contain information about finding relevant articles,
newspaper articles, with lists of databases, subject gateways and guidance on
tracking down citations.
This area also contains A-Z lists of
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Archives
Bookshops and bibliographic information
Calls for papers
Citing references
Current awareness services
Dictionaries/encyclopedias
Directories
Ebook collections
Funding sources
Government information
Map services
Newspapers
Repositories
Search engines
Statistical information
Theses
Special Collections
Institutional Repository
Electronic Library
Links to
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Electronic subject resources
A-Z databases
Find It! Ejournal SFX web search by title, by subject area and publisher
Find It! Locate specific articles using citation details
A-Z ebook collections (subscription and free)
A-Z Newspapers and online news services
EndNote
Library guides and online tutorials
Information and help on finding journal articles
Information and help on finding print and ebooks
FAQs
Help information on logging in, passwords, RSS feeds
Other Information
Includes links to
 Special collections
Library Catalogue
Reading List Catalogue
University of Huddersfield Library
http://www.hud.ac.uk/cls/
Scholarly communication resources and information are presented under a
number of picture/icon headings on the Library homepage.
Library Catalogue
Contains information about the vast majority of items available in the library
The Basics
Includes links to
 Using the library catalogue: what it contains and tutorials on use
 Using MetaLib: what it contains and tutorials on use
Support for Researchers
Includes links to
 Finding and Managing Information
o Library catalogue: information, demos and tutorials
o MetaLib: information, demos and tutorials
o Other library catalogues: COPAC, SUNCAT, WorldCat etc.
o ILL service
o Electronic Theses Online service
o EndNote
 University of Huddersfield Repository
 Archives and Special Collections
 Copyright, IPR and Patents
o Guide to copright, IPR etc.
o Useful links
 Using Other Libraries
o SCONUL access
o Local academic and public libraries
 Keeping Up To Date
o Journal articles: TOC and Saved Search alerts
o Conferences
o Webpages: Intute, Google Alert
o Books: Publisher and catalogue alerts
o RSS feeds
o Research discussion lists, e.g. Jiscmail
Electronic Library Resources
Includes links to
 MetaLib: Enables searching for online databases and ejournals by name
and subject and metasearching of online resources
 Databases: Only available via MetaLib
 Electronic journals: A-Z web browse and search. Also available via Metalib
and via Library Catalogue.
 Electronic text books: available via Library Catalogue and collections by
subject via MetaLib
 Electronic reference books: Available via MetaLib
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Websites: links to subject specific reference sources via MetaLib
Information Literacy
Interactive guide to information literacy. Includes general information about
information literacy, also guides by a few broad subject areas.
University of Huddersfield Repository
Finding Information
Includes links to
 Ask a Librarian
 Electronic Library Resources (as above)
 EndNote Information
 Library Catalogue
 Newspapers
 Patents
 Information literacy (as above)
 Guide to copyright, IPR etc
 Information by Subject: Subject guides for around 45 subjects. Guides
include
o Books
o Journals
o Databases
o Websites
o Standards
o Patents
o Who to contact
o Newspapers
Help Sheets
Available in a few broad subject areas