The Strategic Science Investment Plan 2017 – 2024 from the New Zealand Government includes a strategic five-year plan for improving the quality of data on the country’s research system. A key action in the Research, Science and Innovation Domain Plan is to create a National Research Information System for New Zealand (NRIS). The NRIS will link data on researchers, their projects, outputs, funding sources and end-user collaborations. The implications for New Zealand higher education institutions is that, over time, research organisations will need to meet the minimum standards that define the Domain Plan. New Zealand university libraries have contributed significantly to achieving this. We outline the introduction and development of the framework for the national research information system in New Zealand and examine the approach taken and outcomes expected.
While the development of a national framework has enabled university libraries to contribute to institutional infrastructure, the main focus of this paper is the development of a programme of change carried out at the University of Otago Library to support Researchers and the University. Library support for the building blocks required for the national research domain plan are considered in this paper. We explore an example from the University of Otago and consider the Library’s contribution to framing the requirements of an institutional Research Information Management System that will inter-connect with the national reporting infrastructure.
The use of ORCID identifiers is central to realising the establishment of the NRIS and there is commitment from the Government to support the use of ORCID ID as a common researcher identifier across New Zealand’s research and science system. Within the New Zealand universities, support for the establishment and administration of an ORCID national consortium has been carried out by their libraries. Examples of support for the implementation of ORCID across New Zealand Universities are provided.
We consider the implications for the University of Otago Library and the organisational changes implemented in response to institutional and national initiatives. The University Library has developed a programme to extend the research support services it provides. A new unit has been created to deliver research data management services, advise on eResearch initiatives and provide assessment on the impact of research activities.
Operational planning was carried out to define the strategic priorities and the outcomes the Library expected. An engagement plan was developed which aligned the Library’s activities with the University’s Research Action Plan. This paper provides an example of planning and developing a library response to the need for research support and information on the skills and competencies sought for this new unit and the staff development plan put in place by the Library.
