Generating research income: library involvement in academic research

Abstract

This paper considers the increasingly diverse role of the academic librarian, particularly with regard to research support and involvement in university projects and applied research. It considers how such involvement can enhance the status of the library within the institution and provide positive opportunities to promote and develop the involvement of library staff with departments across the university. The paper focuses on the Coventry University Library’s involvement with a JISC funded project D-TRACES, which sought to further embed Replay, the Siobhan Davies Dance Archive, into the curriculum in order to increase its use and uptake within teaching, learning and research. This was a joint project between the University Library and the Dance Department, and was supported by the Siobhan Davies Dance Company. The library’s role in this project focused on conducting the user analysis of the existing use and take up of the resource and the production of a report that would inform the next stage of the project, to further embed Replay within teaching and learning.