Set Up Scopus

Why the student program?

As a new Scopus customer, we would like to assist you in promoting awareness of this new resource that you’ve decided to invest in to your users at your institute. It’s as simple as that! From speaking to librarians at many institutes it has become clear to us that outreach to students, faculty and researchers is something you would all like to do more of …but rarely have the time. This is where the student program comes in: Elsevier will sponsor one or two students to work with you for a semester (or two) to promote awareness of the library resources and services you offer – including Scopus.

Student activities

Student Ambassadors may carry out any number of the activities listed below. Students and librarians are also encouraged to come up with new ideas; each library and campus is different and activities can be customized according to the needs of your institute.

	Students learn more about Scopus at the University of Teeside, UK

• Setting up meetings with faculty, researchers and students to introduce Scopus and other library resources, as directed.
• Organizing small informal events on campus to generate awareness of library resources such as “Demo Days” where refreshments are served and users are encouraged to find out more about Scopus and other library resources.
• Arranging advertising, where possible, in student and faculty newspapers/newsletters.
• Distributing promotional material (user guides, pens etc) on campus on a regular basis.
• Eliciting feedback from users which can provide input for further product development.
• Assisting university librarians with other library activities, as directed.

Your library’s role

The bulk of the work involved in implementing this program at your institute will fall on Elsevier’s shoulders. Therefore, the librarians’ involvement will be minimal. To make this a worthwhile experience for both your library and institute, we request your assistance with the following activities:

• Student recruitment, interviewing and selection.
• Student training.
• Student activities planning (at start of program) and reporting (ongoing).

From our experience at other institutes that have participated in the Student Program, it is suggested that the Student Ambassador be partnered with a ‘librarian mentor’ who can help guide the student in terms of library practices & policies and also provide more information about other library resources and services, if necessary.

What do librarians think?

"I was attracted to the program because it used students rather than library staff to spread the gospel and involved people working in day-to-day contact with their peers. I liked the Student Ambassador program because it saved me time and effort. The ambassador held regular drop-in sessions once a week in the library, participated in all our induction sessions and attended several seminars with academic staff and research students. I think the program has been very successful at promoting SCOPUS as the user figures demonstrate."

Iain Noble, Subject Information Team Leader, Science & Technology at the University of Teeside, UK

What do the student ambassadors think?

	Aldara Pan and Beatriz Soto

“During spring 2006, doctoral students Aldara Pan and Beatriz Soto worked part-time as Scopus Student Ambassadors at the University of Vigo in Spain. During that time they spoke with professors and lecturers as well as fellow students, sent mailings and generally increased the profile of Scopus at their institution.

On their own initiative, these students translated Scopus facts and figures into Spanish and produced a placemat for serving trays at their campus cafeteria. Their hard work — reaching about 10,000 university community members — paid off, as indicated by a large increase in Scopus usage at the university while they served as ambassadors.

Aldara and Beatriz found the experience with Scopus valuable. In terms of their own research, they found Scopus made it quick and easy to locate relevant, high-quality information and saved them time.
What part of their experience as Scopus Student Ambassadors did they find most rewarding? According to Aldara, “Our outreach put us in touch with many departments, faculties and students. So besides improving our research skills, through our efforts to help connect researchers with Scopus we improved our communication skills too. We realize this opportunity benefited our librarian and university, but we think most of all this opportunity benefited us!"

Library Connect Newsletter issue (Volume 4, Number 4), date (October 2006).

What is the outcome?

	Number of Searches

Significant difference in usage. Elsevier conducted a study on the impact of the SAm program on each account’s number of users, depicted in the graph. The results showed a substantial increase in Scopus usage over a short period of time.

The results are based on the total number of searches at six participating institutes over a six month period. The first month shows usage prior to the beginning of the SAm Program.

Interested in participating?

Is the Student Program for you? We hope so and we look forward to the opportunity to work with you on this in the coming months. After all, we know that Scopus represents a significant investment on your part and we want to make sure you get the most of this investment in the coming years.

If you have any questions or comments, please don’t hesitate to contact us.
We look forward to hearing from you soon!

Chris James, Northern Europe and South Africa, +31 (0) 20 485 3243
Eduardo Ramos, Southern Europe, +31 (0) 20 485 2110
Arthur Eger, Germany and Eastern Europe, +31 (0) 20 485 2101
Hatim Faiz, Middle East and Africa, +31 (0) 20 485 3232
Galina Yakshonak, Russia, +31 (0) 20 485 3926