{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,4]],"date-time":"2026-05-04T20:58:01Z","timestamp":1777928281707,"version":"3.51.4"},"reference-count":17,"publisher":"SAGE Publications","issue":"2","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,20]],"date-time":"2009-05-20T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1242777600000},"content-version":"tdm","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/page\/policies\/text-and-data-mining-license"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Journal of Librarianship and Information Science"],"published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,6]]},"abstract":"<jats:p>The mere fact that a library service is being used does not mean that the service makes a difference or has a positive impact on the user. This has significant implications for Special Library and Information Services (SL&amp;IS) that have to constantly prove that they add value. Because of the difficulty of measuring impact effectively, the majority of libraries still appear to measure performance quantitatively (how many books do we have, how many are used etc.) instead of looking at the difference the service actually makes. This paper discusses specifically the impact an information service has on the ability of natural science researchers to perform their research effectively and efficiently. A focus group, short survey and 15 interviews were conducted with researchers that use SL&amp;IS in their research at the South African Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) \u2014 the largest research Council in Africa. The results showed that researchers felt that Library and Information Services have a positive impact on the research process. The two most important indicators of impact chosen by the researchers were firstly, time saved in information retrieval and delivery and secondly, higher success rate in research. In contrast with Poll's (2005) view, researchers felt that Library and Information Services do not necessarily impact on growing their skills and competencies or their attitude and behaviour as researchers. The relationship between the librarian and the researcher also came to light as very important in the research process. The study also identified further important indicators of impact which will serve as the foundation for a more in-depth research study.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.1177\/0961000609102833","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,20]],"date-time":"2009-05-20T12:41:28Z","timestamp":1242823288000},"page":"108-123","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":7,"title":["Evaluating the impact of a Special Library and Information Service"],"prefix":"10.1177","volume":"41","author":[{"given":"Erika","family":"Botha","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (external researcher),"}]},{"given":"Ren\u00e9","family":"Erasmus","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"University of South Africa's School of Business Leadership"}]},{"given":"Martie","family":"Van Deventer","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"CSIR's Information Services"}]}],"member":"179","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,20]]},"reference":[{"key":"atypb1","volume-title":"Methods of Social Research","author":"Bailey, K.D.","year":"1994"},{"key":"atypb2","volume-title":"`CSIR Research Efficiency: Situation and Needs Analysis. Structured Interview Report.'","author":"Csir","year":"2007"},{"key":"atypb3","volume-title":"Profile of the CSIR","author":"Csir","year":"2007"},{"key":"atypb4","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/14678040610654819"},{"key":"atypb5","volume-title":"Practical Research","author":"Leedy, P.D.","year":"2005","edition":"8"},{"key":"atypb6","volume-title":"Evaluating the Impact of your Library","author":"Markless, S.","year":"2006"},{"key":"atypb7","volume-title":"Financial Strategy. Vital Statistics","author":"Open University Business School","year":"2006","edition":"4"},{"key":"atypb8","volume-title":"World Library and Information Congress: 71st IFLA General Conference and Council","author":"Poll, R."},{"key":"atypb9","volume-title":"World Library and Information Congress: 73rd IFLA General Conference and Council","author":"Poll, R."},{"key":"atypb10","unstructured":"Segal-Horn, S. (2004) `The Internationalization of Service Firms', in S. Segal-Horn (ed.) The Strategy Reader, 2nd edn, pp. 411-29. Oxford: Blackwell Publishing."},{"key":"atypb11","unstructured":"Sherikar, A., Jange, S. and Sangam, S.L. (2006) `Performance Measurement of Quality Services in Academic and Research Libraries in India', in C. Khoo, D. Singh and A.S. Chaudhry (eds) Proceedings of the Asia-Pacific Conference on Library & Information Education & Practice 2006 (A-LIEP 2006), Singapore, 3-6 April, pp. 61-7. Singapore : School of Communication & Information, Nanyang Technological University."},{"key":"atypb12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/02580540610704026"},{"key":"atypb13","first-page":"114","volume":"2006","author":"Town, S.","year":"2006","journal-title":"SCONUL Focus 38 Summer\/Autumn"},{"key":"atypb14","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1533\/9781780630854"},{"key":"atypb15","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/00242530810894022"},{"key":"atypb16","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/01435120710723581"},{"key":"atypb17","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","DOI":"10.1108\/01443570710714565"}],"container-title":["Journal of Librarianship and Information Science"],"original-title":[],"language":"en","link":[{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0961000609102833","content-type":"application\/pdf","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"text-mining"},{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/pdf\/10.1177\/0961000609102833","content-type":"unspecified","content-version":"vor","intended-application":"similarity-checking"}],"deposited":{"date-parts":[[2026,5,1]],"date-time":"2026-05-01T23:08:55Z","timestamp":1777676935000},"score":1,"resource":{"primary":{"URL":"https:\/\/journals.sagepub.com\/doi\/10.1177\/0961000609102833"}},"subtitle":[],"short-title":[],"issued":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,20]]},"references-count":17,"journal-issue":{"issue":"2","published-print":{"date-parts":[[2009,6]]}},"alternative-id":["10.1177\/0961000609102833"],"URL":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/0961000609102833","relation":{},"ISSN":["0961-0006","1741-6477"],"issn-type":[{"value":"0961-0006","type":"print"},{"value":"1741-6477","type":"electronic"}],"subject":[],"published":{"date-parts":[[2009,5,20]]}}}