abstract
- Commissioned by the Technische Informationsbibliothek (TIB) – German National Library of Science and Technology, Leibniz Information Centre for Science and Technology, engage AG conducted a quantitative online survey on the topic of information procurement and publishing behaviour among researchers in the natural sciences and engineering between the end of 2016 and the beginning of 2017. More than 1,400 researchers from German higher education institutions (HEIs) and non-university research institutions provided insight into their research activities and expressed their opinions. The aim of the study was to gain a more accurate and varied picture of potential library users and their information procurement and publishing behaviour. The survey focused on the use, production and handling of non-textual material such as audiovisual media, 3D objects and research data, which have so far been little studied in the library context. The questionnaire used in the survey contained closed questions, addressing issues relating to the use of search tools and to modes of access in information procurement as well as to the production and publication of various scientific contributions and material. A number of questions were aimed at determining the need for advice on matters such as Open Access publications, the use of repositories and the allocation of Digital Object Identifiers (DOI) for non-textual material. As such, the study sheds light on the user behaviour of researchers as well as their potential need for new services and user-centred advisory services.