Adoption of the Guidelines for Higher Education Libraries in Portugal: Contributions to Assessment

Three years after the publication and large-scale dissemination of the guideline document “Recommendations for Higher Education Libraries”, we seek to understand the extent to which this document has been adopted by librarians and how practices and experiences have been introduced in Portuguese higher education libraries. This paper aims to assess the application of the Recommendations on user training, particularly in information literacy; in digital content management, including data and scientific Adoption of the Guidelines for Higher Education Libraries in Portugal 2 Liber Quarterly Volume 3


Introduction
In a complex and changing world, information to manage increases exponentially, bringing new challenges for higher education institutions and information professionals. At the same time, library spaces take on new roles, responding to technological challenges, advances in open science, supporting key players in research and teaching, both as knowledge producers and transmitters. Three years ago, the Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists, and Documentalists collaboratively built the guiding document "Recommendations for Higher Education Libraries" (BAD, 2016). With the online publication and distribution to BAD associates and many professionals from Libraries and Higher Education, policymakers and tutelage, as well as the Ministry of Science and Higher Education, the Recommendations have become widespread. At the same time, several professionals were presenting, both nationally and internationally, the Recommendations (see Sanches & Costa, 2017). This movement reveals one of the working facets of this professional association, which through its Higher Education Libraries (HEL) Working Group, has sought to align strategies, develop projects and implement work tools, contributing to the affirmation and qualification of libraries and professionals of the area. On the other hand, these actions also have a purpose for contributing to the construction of public policies, intending to include in the Higher Education agenda the theme of its Libraries, and to create conditions of social intervention at the teaching and research level support.
From a non-exhaustive literature review, it appears that there are common concerns in several countries, to which the various institutions and stakeholders have sought to answer for some years. These organizations and individuals have debated the future of higher education libraries, which include university and polytechnic libraries and research centres. Examples are Denmark's Electronic Research Library in Denmark-DEFF (LimeGuild, 2009), Council on Library and Information Resources in the United States (CLIR, 2008), United Kingdom, Research Information Network and Consortium of Research Libraries [RIN & CURL] (Brown & Swan, 2007) and the United Kingdom and Ireland (RLUK, 2014) as well as several individual or collective researchers (Eden, 2015;Ross & Sennyey, 2008;Shorley & Jubb, 2013). These documents already raised inevitable questions about the imperative need for libraries to adapt to change, particularly at the technological level, particularly as regards communication and information sharing. The impact of these changes has been noticeable in adapting the skills of librarians, the partnerships these professionals promote, addressing different user needs, managing information systems, supporting publishing and the implications of open access, and everything else, which involves the management and dissemination of scientific and academic knowledge.
More recently, several institutions have updated their documents, conducting prospective reflections that help us prepare the future. ACRL (2018) updated its Standards for Libraries in Higher Education. In this guiding document, the principles are based on the main functions performed by libraries and for their evaluation. The principles are converted into performance indicators that become measurable evidence through the results obtained, and that means a periodical evaluation. This evaluation concerns institutional effectiveness, professional values, educational role, discovery, collections, spaces, management, administration and leadership, staff and external relations.
Also, RLUK (2018) recently presented its "Reshaping Scholarship Strategic Plan 2018-2021". Only two strategic lines guide this plan for Research Libraries in the UK: i) the open academy, which means fostering the creation of a new environment for research transformation (open communication systems where knowledge creators and users are connected); ii) and a collective approach, which involves reconfiguring the modern collections of research libraries (new materials in conjunction with traditional ones must be collected, archived, preserved and made accessible for research and learning).
SCONUL (Pinfield, Cox, & Rutter, 2017), on the other hand, presents in the document Mapping the Future of Academic Libraries which are the areas of expertise that will shortly become preponderant. It shows the main trends: data management in academia; digital-based learning; user-centred and service-oriented libraries; mixed identities; collaboration and skills development; intensified contextual pressures. To address these trends, it recommends strategic partnerships; well-grounded electronic to printed media changes; significant and value-added digital spaces; the role of libraries in information discovery; digital humanities; artificial intelligence; internet of things; research data; establishing a vision; and a school culture that can enhance flexibility and innovation. Therefore, while this seems familiar to us at the European level, it is essential to analyse the Portuguese reality, to prepare the future of the actions of higher education libraries in the country. In 2016, after a broad debate and discussion about the purposes and actions of these libraries, the Portuguese Association of Librarians, Archivists and Documentarists, through its Higher Education Libraries Working Group, consolidated and presented the final version of the Recommendations, which resulted precisely from the integration of all contributions collected in professional forums and workshops. The 10 Recommendations, currently in force, focus primarily on four strands of library action, already explained in a previous study (Sanches & Costa, 2017): • Support for teaching and learning, specifically to promoting information literacy skills; • Support for research and scientific publication activities; • Organizational management of partnerships and cooperation projects between libraries; • The design and delivery of services, systems, and spaces that facilitate and enhance learning and discovery, and information management.
We now present each of the 10 Recommendations, in its consolidated version: 1. Reaffirming the importance of information literacy skills in the academic community. 2. Developing library professionals' skills to support teaching/learning activities. 3. Supporting editorial projects concerning academic and scientific publications. 4. Ensuring institutional repositories aligned with interoperability and preservation standards. 5. Creating support services for scientific data management. 6. Strengthening the library's role in supporting research. 7. Encouraging partnerships with structures that support the academic community. 8. Promoting and facilitating access to information sources. 9. Reinventing and enhancing library spaces. 10. Deepening collaboration networks between professionals and institutions.
Three years after its widespread dissemination, it is crucial to consider the extent to which these recommendations have been implemented. To do that is observed the visibility and impact that this guidance document has had over the time if it has been in force and gathered the support of librarians, and how they convert it into services or resources available to users.

Methods
This study aims to understand the impact of the Recommendations for Higher Education Libraries at a national level, to verify how this guidance document effectively constitutes a policy diffuser and implementer. By carrying out this monitoring, it is possible to obtain indications and suggestions to improve future documents of the same type. For this purpose, a questionnaire survey was sent to the 172 Portuguese Higher Education Libraries registered in the Directory (https://www.bad.pt/diretorio/). The questionnaire comprises aggregated data in 3 sections: library identification, recommendation characterization, and impact analysis. In this last aspect, it is intended to collect the information related to the actions developed around the ten Recommendations. The questions studied are presented in Table 1 and the answers were automatically collected in the Google Forms tool in early 2019.
For each recommendation, four response hypotheses were presented, aiming to measure the degree of involvement (gradually) of that recommendation. These questions sought to encourage the librarians to reflect on the applicability of the Recommendations in their professional practice (Table 1).

Results and Discussion
The questionnaire was answered by approximately one-third (59) of the Portuguese HEL (172) registered in the BAD Directory (https://www.bad. pt/diretorio). From those, 80% belong to the Public Higher Education, and 65% were Universities. Table 2 shows the distribution of libraries according to their typology.
The results obtained, form a representative sample from the geographic scope of the survey at the national level, as well as a well-proportioned sample concerning the types of schools in the country (military and police education, private and public polytechnics, private and public universities).
We have analysed each of the Recommendations regarding the receptivity they received. In general, the answers are very positive, revealing a significant impact of the Recommendations on the responding libraries.
The sequential analysis of each of the Recommendations allows us to observe their level of adoption demonstrated through the graph that represents the answers obtained, presenting each one separately for better analysis and interpretation.

Recommendation 1-Reaffirming the Importance of Information Literacy Skills in the Academic Community
Affirming the need to develop Information Literacy in the academic community, highlighting with institutional partners the importance of recognizing information literacy skills, by including it in course curricula initiatives that promote these skills and ensuring that the Library responds,   prospectively and proactively, to teachers' requests for support in teaching and research activities. (Figure 1; see Table 1 for the meaning of A,B,C and D in all figures).
Looking at the answers to the questionnaire, the preponderance of action of libraries concerning Recommendation 1-Information literacy skills is clear, with the majority of responses indicating some intervention regarding this issue.
If on the one hand, only seven (11%) of the answering libraries state that all options are being in practice by their library, the majority 41 (70%) responds to have developed initiatives/training sessions that improve these competencies and 19 (33%) that reply to teachers' requests to support research activities.
Only one library indicates the importance of qualification of information literacy competence in the academic curricula. This lack of recognition is a dimension on which it is essential to invest.
The majority of the Portuguese libraries of the higher education institutions recognize the importance of information literacy skills, 58 out of 59 developed some initiatives.
We believe that the focus in this area is on making professionals aware of the importance and necessity of integrating Information Literacy in academic curricula. The role of the academic librarian as an active agent in the teaching-learning process of students, teachers and research groups, is increasing, which undoubtedly adds value to the information professional.

Recommendation 2-Developing Library Professionals' Skills to Support Teaching/Learning Activities
Investing in the reinforcement and development of library professionals' technical and pedagogical skills and the creation of online content for training and knowledge transfer activities, by investing in the establishment of partnerships with teachers in designing and developing services to support teaching, implementing initiatives that promote content sharing ( Figure 2).
With only four (7%) respondent institutions not applying any of the options presented, the focus on strengthening and developing professional skills is evident with 33 (56%) of the respondent institutions ticking this option. The importance of the creation of online content obtained 36% of the responses, clearly showing that librarians are aware of trends underlined by open educational resources. The investment in establishing partnerships with teachers in initiatives that promote the sharing of content achieved 32%. 7% of the This is one of the areas where most librarians are sensitive, recognizing the importance, and focus on the development of technical and pedagogical skills. Many of them already produce online content for training activities they develop. They also establish partnerships with teachers to promote and share content.

Recommendation 3-Supporting Editorial Projects Concerning Academic and Scientific Publications
Being available to undertake new functions concerning the publication and edition of academic and scientific journals, books or other forms of sharing science, by supporting those who are responsible to define editorial policies and business models and in editorial coordination, by developing, maintaining and supporting information systems, which lodge and disseminate these publications (Figure 3).
Based on the obtained answers, this is the recommendation whose implementation appears to have been the least successful with more than one-third of institutions (22) responding that they have not implemented any support or coordination actions on publishing projects/academic and scientific publications. Although 56% (33) of the answered institutions are willing to assume these new functions, only 15% (4) of the total of the respondent libraries indicate to coordinate publications at the editorial level. This is where librarians from higher education institutions invest the least. It is important to understand which are the main obstacles to the implementation of these services and the reasons that lead to these results, with 22 of the 59 institutions indicating not having developed any action in this direction, especially in the context of the open access expansion. We realize that the need for support from institutions and researchers in this area is increasingly pressing. Not only do European policies require a more responsive attitude within publishing, but also an unknown or even risky context, for example, with predatory journals, requires librarians to be closer to those who wish to publish.

Recommendation 4-Ensuring Institutional Repositories Aligned with Interoperability and Preservation Standards
Consolidating Institutional Repositories with the technical specifications which guarantee interoperability and digital preservation standards, by reinforcing the essential role of the repository in institutional and national ecosystems of academic and scientific information, namely in their integration with science management systems (CRIS) and in the application of Open Access policies (Figure 4).

Fig. 4: Institutional repositories (%).
Actions of the importance of the institutional repositories seem to be one of the Recommendations that achieve a high level of applicability and achievement. More than two-thirds of the institution, 46 (78%) recognize to work with institutional repositories, 26 (44%) reinforce the central role of the repository and more than half of the institutions 34 (58%) had implemented open access policies. Only four institutions (7%) mentioned not having taken any action concerning this recommendation.
It becomes clear that this is an issue in which professionals from Portuguese HEL seem to invest, perhaps not only, but mainly as a

Recommendation 5-Creating Support Services for Scientific Data Management
Designing support services for scientific data management, grounded in strategic intervention plans for institutional action which respond to the management needs of data researchers generated and collected during the research activity, understanding the important role of research and higher education in promoting an open data culture and in complying with data policies of funding bodies ( Figure 5). Significantly, the number of HEL that responded that they understand the critical role of research institutions in implementing science founder data policies is high (59%). Equally revealing of interest is the statement by 47% of respondents that seek to promote an open data culture (47%). However, compliance with the recommendation, designing support services for scientific data management, is still far from desirable, with only 20% of responses in this direction. About 14% mention that they are doing nothing about this recommendation.
The answers demonstrate that most librarians understand the role of research institutions in the fulfillment of data policies of science funding bodies, but only a small number of the librarians support the management of scientific data. Therefore, this is an area of development to which libraries of academic institutions are sensitive and are now beginning to develop and implement some support services.

Recommendation 6-Strengthening the Library's Role in Supporting Research
Fostering a relationship of trust and partnership between the library and researchers, showing the information professionals' skills in supporting research, publication and scientific output evaluation, providing researchers with the tools needed to increase the visibility of scientific work on an individual and institutional level, interpreting evaluation indicators and assessing the impact of scientific production ( Figure 6).
The recommendation on support for research shows that there are still lots of work to do regarding the promotion of relationships of trust and partnership between the library and researchers and in highlighting the new skills of the information professionals supporting research activity, publication, and performance assessment.
The answers indicate that only 10 of the responding institutions answer affirmatively to all of the applicability hypotheses of the recommendation and 12 that did not perform any of the actions listed. From the total, 44% promotes a relationship of trust and partnership, 39% helps researchers with the necessary tools, and 34% provides and interprets evaluation indicators to measure the impact of scientific output.
Twenty-six institutions already promote a relationship of trust and partnership, and 23 already provide and analyse indicators for evaluating the scientific output of the institution and its researchers and teachers.
The new activities carried out by libraries in support of research can form an essential strategy for broadening their role within the academic community.

Recommendation 7-Encouraging Partnerships with Structures that Support the Academic Community
Actively and effectively developing partnerships with the structures and services that support students, teachers, and researchers, building common solutions, creating added value for the academic community, and enhancing innovation cross-cutting services (Figure 7).
Concerning the recommendation on partnerships, the level of accomplishment is below the one that would be expected, with an equal percentage of institutions (42%) saying to develop, actively and effectively, partnerships with the structures and support services for students, teachers, and researchers and building standard solutions, generating added value for the academic community. 32% consider contributing to the development of innovative transversal services, but 24% (14) of the institutions did not indicate any action regarding the implementation of this recommendation.
In a context where scientific multidisciplinary and the use of crosscutting skills are a reality, libraries need to position themselves to help create synergies. That is why the appeal to develop partnerships is inevitable, becoming a critical factor for the success of library services. It is, therefore, necessary to urge librarians to invest even more in this matter.

Recommendation 8-Promoting and Facilitating Access to Information Sources
Promoting and facilitating access to printed and digital information sources which are available in the institution and other resources for teaching and research, by effectively and regularly divulging them, providing integrated systems that allow efficient information discovery and the inclusion of bibliographic data of information systems managed by the library in external aggregating systems (Figure 8).
Sources of information, access to information and knowledge as well as efficient information retrieval by users remains one of the main concerns and services provided by these institutions. This recommendation appears to be where most of the institutions seem to have invested (93%) with only one responding not having any action that fits into the promotion and facilitation of access to printed and digital information resources available at the institution and other resources for teaching and research. OPAC systems are already available in 54% of the respondent institutions. Additionally, bibliographic data of information systems in external aggregators are included by onethird of the libraries (32%).

Recommendation 9-Reinventing and Enhancing Library Spaces
Reinventing Library spaces through more flexible, open and dynamic designs that promote greater accessibility and different working methods (collaborative and individual), so it became at once Socialization Spaces and Learning Laboratories (Figure 9).
The reinvention of library spaces seems to be underway, by nearly half of the answering libraries being able to reinvent the spaces through flexible, open and dynamic designs (46%), more than half (54%) promotes accessibility, and different ways of working (collaborative and individually) and 41% is simultaneously a space for socialization and learning laboratory. Only 14 libraries mention to act in all these strands, but unfortunately, the same number of libraries has not yet had the ability or opportunity to accomplish on this recommendation, which presents apparent constraints related to the available spaces and budgets.
Library spaces remain preponderant for study and research. Their continued use shows us that libraries prevail as information ecosystems where users are welcome, where they can access, search, select information and create new knowledge. The facilities that spaces and resources provide remain well recognized by librarians, although a real investment in conservation and adaptation to new challenges and functions remains necessary.

Recommendation 10-Deepening Collaboration Networks between Professionals and Institutions
Deepening collaboration networks between professionals and institutions that develop and actively promote initiatives to bring professional closer, to create institutional partnerships and to value good practices, building value on pre-existing networks and ensuring working conditions for new cooperation initiatives (Figure 10).
Concerning the networks of collaboration between professionals and institutions that actively develop and promote initiatives to bring professionals together, 66% of these libraries seem to have achieved it, presenting themselves as partners of these networks. 41% admit generating institutional partnerships to value good practices, and 44% build value on existing networks and ensure operating conditions for new cooperation initiatives. Only eight institutions (14%) do not indicate any of the options.
We are proud to see that almost all information professionals come together in collaborative networks, building value on existing partnerships and ensuring operating conditions for new cooperation initiatives.
In synthesis, the most implemented areas are information literacy and the management of institutional repositories, and support for editorial projects was the one with the lowest level of application.

Conclusions
Feeling the increasing need to trigger and build public policies in Library Science, and in HEL, in particular, the presentation and application of the document "Recommendations for Libraries of Higher Education" was fundamental. Establishing national library policies, in particular for HEL, should include the implementation of normative documents and guidelines that guide librarians in implementing programs and building a good practice. This can and should be done through leadership incentives that drive change and joint action. However, it is also essential to take stock of what consequences can be glimpsed. This intervention always implies the regular monitoring of the actions developed, preferably based on the results obtained from the actors. It is from these results that it is possible to include new themes and new issues on the political agenda. At this stage, we can say that we have already achieved a significant part of the national collaborative work. It is certainly insufficient, but it is the motto to promote and fully implement these recommendations, which are intended to be updated periodically, as they reflect the ever-changing contexts. That is why this is an essential and meritorious step that combines efforts around common goals. International trends, together with social influences and other factors arising from technology integration, changes in higher education, changes in the way research, production, and publication of science are performed, are certainly catalysts for the implementation of these Recommendations.