Thursday, August 29, 2013

Useful Information On Finding Quality Library Consulting Services

By Amanda Baird


Library consulting services are usually provided for the purposes of giving users support when doing their research projects. Such services are aimed at supporting professional researchers and consultants who can then work together on a specific project. The librarian creates a workspace for various users who can then share knowledge, contacts and other information related to the project.

To make it easy for the researchers to get access to the desired information, the librarian will help organize the data in the workplace in a way that is user-friendly. This may involve correct indexing of files and proper grouping of documents with common subject. One of the commonly used platforms for sharing information is the World Wide Web. This makes it very convenient for clients to gain access to information from any part of the world.

Before signing up with a library consulting service provider, make sure that they can meet your expectations. Go for qualified professionals with necessary technical resources to serve you better. Seek to build a good and long-lasting relationship with your service provider. Establish trust with them as they are the custodians of your research secrets. You do not want your work to leak out before you can publish it.

You also need to find out about the quality of service offered. Things to look out for include virtual reference services, on-line chats and video conferencing. This will come in handy when working on large projects, you have to deal with a whole company or in case researchers come from different parts of the world. A good collection of electronic journals, eBooks and other referencing materials as these can be shared easily as compared to hard copies. No library worth its salt can claim to offer consulting services if they do not have digital content.

Do a cost analysis before enrolling for such services. This will help you plan for your project and avoid possible financial difficulties which may stall the project unnecessarily. Take time and evaluate various membership tiers offered by the service provider. Choose a tier that is within your budget depending on complexity of the project. Exploit available avenues to bargain for cheaper rates especially if you are many researchers working on a common project.

Good libraries will also offer sufficient administrative support. Sometimes, one may need their help with determining copyright, usage and licensing terms to avoid breaking set regulations. This means the provider should set clear timelines which they are bound to meet without failure. Any researcher is a busy person who does not have time to haggle about services that have not been delivered as agreed. Choose to work with an institution which is serious with what they do.

The importance of these services cannot be underestimated. By bringing knowledge together especially as an on-line resource, it makes research work so easy and enables participants to plan, share information and work together using the provided workspace. The time taken to complete a project is also shortened significantly as less time is spent on information transmission.

As technology continues to evolve and new way of sharing information enter the market place, it is important for library consulting service providers to keep abreast with changing times. This will make them stay relevant to the needs of present generation. Institutions that constantly invest in their infrastructure and human resources are better placed to deliver superior services as compared to their competitors.




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