Building better research support through community insight

Author: Saskia Hoving

Editor-in-Chief

A post on The Source explored how surveys help us understand researchers, their publishing habits, communication preferences and the challenges they face in sharing their work. These insights are vital, but they only tell one side of the story. The other side belongs to the people who make research possible: librarians, faculty, research office staff and R&D professionals. These roles are deeply embedded in the research process, yet their perspectives are often less visible. When we talk about understanding the research community, we need to include not just those who produce research, but also those who enable it.

Listening to the people behind the research

The roles of librarians, research managers and R&D professionals continue to expand in scope and impact. These are no longer roles defined solely by access or administration; they are central to shaping research strategy, advocating for open science and building partnerships across disciplines and sectors.

Each of these roles brings a distinct perspective to the research ecosystem. And each offers valuable insight into how research is supported, communicated and applied. When we invite you to participate in surveys, we’re opening a dialogue, one that helps us understand how our tools and services fit into your workflows and how they can evolve to meet your needs.

How survey feedback improves research support tools

Taking part in our surveys may seem like a small action, but the impact is far-reaching. Participating in a survey helps us understand how our services are used in practice, where they can improve and how they can better support your organization’s goals. The feedback we receive from librarians, research offices and R&D teams has already led to meaningful developments across our services. For example:

• Nature Masterclasses has evolved into a more flexible, scalable training resource, thanks to community input now available through on-demand modules that fit seamlessly into researcher development programmes.
• Research Data Services have been enhanced to better support data sharing, citation, and preservation, aligning with both institutional policies and day-to-day research practices.
• Licensing and usage dashboards now offer clearer insights, helping libraries demonstrate the value of their collections and communicate impact to stakeholders more effectively.
• Corporate access models have been tailored to meet the needs of applied research teams working across diverse sectors.
• Open access workflows are becoming more transparent and easier to navigate, following feedback given by research offices around APC processes.

These examples reflect the value of ongoing dialogue. And it also gives you a voice, an opportunity to advocate for your team, your researchers and your broader community.

Community perspectives powering research strategy

The insights we gather through surveys do more than shape individual tools, they also help us understand how the research landscape is evolving. By analyzing responses from across the global research community, we identify patterns, priorities and opportunities that inform strategic thinking and spark new conversations. These findings are shared through our white papers and reports, offering a broader view of how research is supported, assessed and shared. For example:

• The State of Research Assessment report shows how institutions are embracing holistic evaluation practices, guided by the experiences of researchers and research managers.
• The State of Open Data highlights the growing momentum behind data sharing, with librarians and research offices actively enabling this cultural shift.
• Global Perspectives on Research Management report reflects the increasing influence of research supporting professionals in shaping institutional strategy.
• Leadership in the Library celebrates the innovative role librarians play in driving collaboration and advancing research ecosystems.
• DEI Insights report explores how equity, diversity, and inclusion are being thoughtfully integrated into research culture.
• From Research to Patent and Back Again white paper demonstrates how industry teams are connected with academic content to accelerate innovation.

Each publication is rooted in community input, ensuring that the voices of those who support research are part of the larger conversation.

Building better research support through community feedback

To continue this dialogue, we invite you to join our online insight panel a space for those who support research to share their experiences, ideas and perspectives. As a member, you’ll have the opportunity to take part in occasional surveys, feedback sessions and early-stage testing of new resources. Your contributions will help ensure that future developments reflect the realities of your work and the communities you serve. Whether you’re advising researchers, managing institutional strategy or driving innovation in industry, your voice helps strengthen the research ecosystem.

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• Impact through mentorship: The ECR Program expands
• Navigating research integrity in the age of AI
• The power of Customer Engagement Events: Where ideas flourish and connections thrive
• Making AI work for all of scholarly communications — sustainably
• Paving the Way to A Sustainable Company: DEI Commitment

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