Maximizing your campus connections: Advancing research development through library partnerships

Abstract

Breaking down silos to create an atmosphere conducive to collaboration is a challenge for any institution but especially for highly decentralized research universities. University libraries are a natural point of connection for researchers across disciplines since library resources and services enable their work. By building strong partnerships between library faculty/staff and research development professionals (RDPs), both groups are better able to support their common goal of fostering interdisciplinary research collaborations.

At The Ohio State University, the University Libraries is creating a Research Commons that leverages campus partnerships to provide support at each stage of the research lifecycle through consultations, education and training, referrals, and showcasing research. Before the opening of a physical space in early 2016, the Research Commons staff has already established partnerships with 14 research support units within the Libraries and across campus. Through their joint efforts, the Research Commons and its partners provided programming for hundreds of researchers from over 60 departments during the Autumn 2014 term. In addition, the Research Commons website acts as a virtual referral point, highlighting these partnerships and expertise across the university. Once the space opens, RDPs will also offer one-on-one consultations and conduct open sessions on assembling interdisciplinary research teams and grant proposals. Showcasing research and providing conference rooms for group meetings, in a centrally-located and discipline-neutral library space, are additional strategies that can make the Research Commons a hub for connection, collaboration, and innovation for Ohio State’s researchers and RDPs alike.