Outreaching, collaborating and connecting: Specialised services supporting researchers for the Performance-Based Research Fund (PBRF)

Abstract

The Performance Based Research Fund (PBRF), launched in 2002, is a New Zealand tertiary education research funding process that assesses the research performance of Tertiary Education Organisations (TEOs) and funds them on the basis of their performance [1]. In the last three evaluation rounds, conducted in 2003, 2006 and 2012, Subject Librarians mostly answered queries relating to research impact metrics based on individual requests from researchers. The service was inconsistent between faculties in supporting researchers and their PBRF submissions at the University of Auckland. This paper presents the University Library’s new initiative to provide specialised services across all faculties. The Library has identified multiple resources required to support University success in the PBRF process and has formalised the PBRF support services across the University for the evaluation round in 2018. This paper also shares the preparation and practices of PBRF Specialist Subject Librarians by looking at two distinct faculties – Engineering and Education – and the importance of outreach, collaboration and connection with key faculty PBRF personnel (PBRF Coordinators and Associate Deans) and faculty researchers. Services include training and consultations with regard to online tools such as the Research Outputs system (Symplectic), SciVal (Scopus), InCites (Web of Science), author profiles such as Scopus author ID, Google Scholar Profile and ORCiD. Furthermore, publication verifications, repository submissions, Open Access, bibliometrics and citation analysis are discussed in respect to PBRF submissions and overall researcher success. As a result the Library is building excellent relationships across multiple faculties by displaying its value through the new PBRF specialist service developed to support researchers at the University of Auckland.