Making the mission visible: altmetrics and nontraditional publishing
| Pages | 294-304 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/DLP-01-2017-0002 |
| Date | 13 November 2017 |
| Published date | 13 November 2017 |
| Author | Jennifer L. Bonnet,Marisa Méndez-Brady |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science,Librarianship/library management,Library technology,Records management & preservation,Information repositories |
Making the mission visible:
altmetrics and nontraditional
publishing
Jennifer L. Bonnet and Marisa Méndez-Brady
University of Maine, Orono, Maine, USA
Abstract
Purpose –Whereas traditional book and journal publishing remain the gold standard for many post-
secondary institutions, nontraditional publishing is just as prolific at the flagship universityin Maine. The
university has strong land and seagrant missions that drive a broad research agenda, with an emphasis on
community outreach and engagement.However, the impact of researchers’contributions outsideof academe
is unlikely to be accurately reflected in promotion,tenure or review processes. Thus, the authors designed a
series of altmetrics workshops aimed at seeding conversations around novel ways to track the impact of
researchers’diversescholarly and creative outputs.
Design/methodology/approach –This paper presents a case study of the instructionalapproach taken
at the University of Maine library to facilitate discussions of alternative impact assessments that reach
beyond traditionalpublications.
Findings –Evaluations revealed an increased awareness of, and interest in, impact tracking tools that
capture both traditional scholarship,like journal articles, and nontraditional scholarly and creative outputs,
such as videos, podcastsand newsletters. The authors learned that altmetricsprovides an entry point into a
broader conversation about scholarly impact, and was best received by those whosescholarly output is not
always capturedby traditional metrics.
Practical implications –Scholars are equipped with novel methods for describing the value of their
work and discovering a broader audiencefor their research. Future initiatives will target the needs identified
through initialconversations around altmetrics.
Originality/value –Altmetrics workshops provide spaces to explore the potential for new tools that
capture a range of previously unconsidered measures of impact, and to discuss the implications of those
measures.
Keywords Altmetrics, Impact, Institutional repository, Scholarly communication,
Library instruction and outreach, Nontraditional publishing
Paper type Case study
Introduction
What is considered scholarship at a rural, land and sea grant university? Whereas
traditional book and journal publishing remain the gold standard for many postsecondary
institutions, nontraditionalpublishing is just as prolific at the flagship university in Maine.
As a research-intensive institution, familiar outputs like journal articles are produced
alongside nontraditional outputs and derivative materials, such as videos, websites, policy
documents and newsletters. This broad view of scholarship reflects the university’s
foundations in the Morrill Act (Library of Congress, 2015), and aligns with a university
mission dedicated to public service and outreach within Maine’s communities. Campus
priorities are manifold, but regional priorities are clear: “Using research-based knowledge,
outreach efforts promote sustainable use of Maine’s abundant natural resources, and build
DLP
33,4
294
Received 3 January 2017
Revised 20 January 2017
Accepted 24 January 2017
DigitalLibrary Perspectives
Vol.33 No. 4, 2017
pp. 294-304
© Emerald Publishing Limited
2059-5816
DOI 10.1108/DLP-01-2017-0002
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is available on Emerald Insight at:
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