Previous Projects

Library Consortia & Electronic Journal Services, September 2002

Funding Agency: The Ingenta Institute, United Kingdom
Duration: September 2002

The Ingenta Institute in the U.K. commissioned a review of library consortia in the U.S. and their arrangements for electronic journal licenses. Based on a literature review and survey, the study described the broader scholarly journal system and the role of library consortia within it. The study showed that:

the use, usefulness and value of journals make consortia services essential
library consortia provide a range of valuable services
library consortia form one type of many participating the scholarly journal system
library consortia provide benefits to all system participants, and
consortia in Europe and elsewhere are different in some ways from U.S. consortia

The study also focused on the relationships between consortia, their members and publishers and identified successful arrangements and difficulties among them. The study report suggested ways in which these relationships could be improved.

Cost, Use and Value of Scholarly Journals at the University of Pittsburgh

Funding Agency: The University of Pittsburgh, University Library System
Duration: October 2002

A collaborative project with the University of Pittsburgh’s Hillman Library is investigating the use and value of scholarly journals and the cost-benefit of alternative ways of making them available to the University community. The study involves three key components, which will be conducted before and after a move to make some 1,200 – 1,500 journals available in electronic form only. Already underway is a comprehensive costing of the library’s journal activity. A review of the past 6 years of data logs (mostly from publishers) is just starting, and a comprehensive survey of faculty, students and staff will proceed during the Spring term. These activities will be repeated during an upcoming academic year to provide comparative data subsequent to the switch to electronic-only journals. As the research proceeds, the intent is to be able to inform decision-makers of the likely effects of their decisions on both the cost and use of scholarly journals. The data collected and supplementary materials generated by the study will be used to create library decision-making case studies and accompanying data sets for incorporation into the education programs of the School of Information Sciences.

Information Technology Success Criteria and Best Practices: Perspectives of Executives of Higher Education Institutions

Funding Agency: Collegis, Inc., The Leadership Alliance Program
Duration: November 2002

The Leadership Alliance Program of Collegis, Inc. is funding a study of the criteria for determining the success of information technology (IT) programs and environments from the perspectives of the executives of higher education institutions. Little is known about how academic executives define IT success, make IT-related decisions such as whether to continue to operate IT in-house or to outsource, how much to invest in IT and how they hold their IT leaders accountable. In particular, the study is targeting the Chief Executive Officer, Chief Academic Officer, Chief Financial/Business/Administrative Officer, Chief Research Officer and the Chief Information Officer of institutions. The study will address:

How academic executives define successful IT programs, environments and best practices, and
Whether criteria for IT success vary (and by how much) by area of responsibility, type of institution (Carnegie class), or other variable (size, organization of IT function, presence of a CIO, etc.)

The study has begun with a literature review and series of interviews to inform the design of survey instruments. A statistical sample of 1,600 – 1,800 institutions will be surveyed and the results analyzed and compared with the results of related research.

Influences of the Digital Revolution on the Conduct of Scientific Research

Funding Agency: American Association for the Advancement of Science (Women's International Science Collaboration travel grant)
Duration: October 2002

A Women’s International Science Collaboration travel grant award (administered by the American Association for the Advancement of Science) will support the development of an international proposal to be submitted to the National Science Foundation. The Australian National University is the primary research partner but institutions in Israel (through Sara Fine), and Europe may also participate. The proposed project will address the following issues:

How do researchers in each country, sector and discipline conduct their research, and how is it changing?
What are the implications of evolving research practices for those tasked with resourcing research and providing the necessary information resources and communication infrastructures to ensure success?
How do different institutional cultures affect the resourcing of research and the provision of information and technology infrastructures?
To what extent do the perceptions and behaviors of institutional leaders affect the resourcing of research ands the provision of information and technology infrastructures?

Study of the Comparison of the Cost and Use of Print and Electronic Collections at Drexel University

Funding Agency: Institute for Museum and Library Services
Duration: 2003

Drexel University received a grant from the Institute for Museum and Library Services to study the impact of the change from a print journal collection to a mostly electronic collection. The Institute has participated in this effort by analyzing the cost data and 2002 readership survey results. This is believed to be the first comprehensive study of the comparison of print and electronic library collections. Three journal articles and a forthcoming book co-authored by our faculty describe the project.

Services of Readership Surveys Performed by the University of Tennessee

Funding Agency: The University of Tennessee, School of Information Sciences
Duration: 2003

The University of Tennessee School of Information Sciences with support of the Institute has performed a series of readership surveys for members of the American Astronomical Society; scientists at the Oak Ridge National Laboratory; and separate surveys of science, engineering and medical faculty at the University of Tennessee. Results of these surveys have been reported in a number of articles co-authored by our faculty. Also, a recent book manuscript Communication by Engineers co-authored by again by members of our faculty was completed in 2002 and is under review by MIT Press. Finally, a series of focus group interviews was conducted by Institute faculty as part of an NSF grant to study Effective Student Use of the Scientific Journal Literature.