Research support services

From online publications to data management: how the University Library supports researchers

University libraries are no longer just places to read and learn - they themselves are reshaping access to knowledge and research. They support researchers in their work with numerous services. Anna Dönecke and Dr. Anneke Thiel from Osnabrück University Library provide an insight into the area of research support services.

With its locations in the Alte Münze, the Westerberg, the Juridicum and the ELSI, the University Library is a point of contact for students and researchers, but also for all other Osnabrück residents who want to further their education: "We have strong connections in the city society," says Dr. Anneke Thiel from the University Library, referring to around 4,500 non-university users. However, the university library not only helps people to provide themselves with information - but also to bring new information into the world.

Help with all questions relating to publishing

"The area of research-supporting tools and services has grown considerably in recent years," says Anna Dönecke. She is the contact person at the university library for the topic of "Open Access". The osnaJournals platform offers researchers at Osnabrück University the opportunity to publish freely accessible online journals: OsnaJournals provides support in publishing and setting up new journals and ensures the long-term availability of published content.
"We help with all questions relating to publishing - from finding the right publishers and journals to financing," says Anna Dönecke. She reports that she receives around ten inquiries a week.

Anneke Thiel knows that the days when open access publications had an inferior reputation due to a lack of quality control are long gone: "Acceptance has grown enormously." For example, Osnabrück University supports the Berlin Declaration on Open Access to Knowledge in the Sciences and Humanities with its Open Access Policy. The number of publications there now stands at 2,888, including 1,348 dissertations alone, as the "eDiss" service has been very well received.

The University Library supports doctoral candidates in publishing their dissertation on the osnaDocs repository, accepts the printed copies to be submitted and confirms the publication achievement to the Examination Office. She is also the right contact person for legal questions, questions about funding models or applications.

Structured planning of academic projects

Another important service provided by the libraries is research data management. For example, osnaPlan is a tool for the administration and structured planning of scientific projects, while research data can be published on the repository osnaData , which contributes to better visibility of the achievements of researchers at Osnabrück University.

Finally, OsnaScholar is the university bibliography operated by the University Library, which provides all members of Osnabrück University with the technical framework to record their scientific publications. The aim is to permanently archive the metadata of all academic publications published by members and affiliates of the university on the Internet.

As science is increasingly moving into the digital space, the question arises as to whether traditional libraries are becoming less important. Will the reading rooms remain empty because so much information is available online? Anneke Thiel shakes her head: "Libraries are full, especially during homework times." In fact, the number of physical loans has fallen in recent years, but many degree courses - especially in the humanities - still rely on the collections. In addition, libraries are more than just buildings where you borrow media: "The library is a learning space, a third place that is very much in demand," says Thiel.

Especially during the pandemic, many students have realized how important it is to have their own place to work, and the libraries' group study rooms are in high demand. Libraries are therefore not losing their relevance - they are just changing their role, but remain indispensable. Because they offer learning and meeting opportunities that cannot be replaced digitally.