1. Co-Creating a Research Landscaping and Visualization Service for Aalto University Library
- Author
-
Johanna Bragge, Heli Yamaguchi, and Anne Sunikka
- Subjects
Science mapping ,Service innovation ,Literature reviews ,Service co-creation ,Research Profiling ,Research Landscaping ,Text-mining ,Customer Integration ,Library and Information Science ,Visualization - Abstract
The explosion of research available in digital journal databases poses increasing challenges but also opportunities to scholars. For a scholar to stay competitive, new information discovery tools such as text-mining and visualization software are needed to handle the data flood. A contemporary science library is in a key position in mediating the best practices via its services to scholars. This research depicts how Aalto University Library innovated such a service together with relevant stakeholders and customers. The dual goal of the research is 1) to ensure that the new service best fulfills the needs of scholars, and 2) to increase understanding on stakeholder and customer involvement in service innovation. The co-creation team included a senior scholar specializing in large-scale research profiling studies, an information specialist and the library’s IT account manager. During the service innovation process, four doctoral students as customers of the library were involved in pilot tests. The pilot sessions confirmed the need and usability of the new service for scholars, and informed how to refine it further. A service blueprint was sketched for the library and the service is being implemented based on that. The research landscapes produced via the service are visualized with a contemporary science mapping software using bibliographic information exported from licensed citation databases. To conclude, the co-creation with relevant stakeholders and customers was essential in innovating the new service. Librarians are experts in information retrieval tools, but not in conducting research, like scholars. Customers provide vital feedback during the service innovation process contributing to the success of it
- Published
- 2014