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Library skills support is available on an individual basis to address specific needs where a tailored approach is necessary. This guidance outlines what you can expect from individual support from your librarian, and what we ask of you to maximise the benefit you get from the individual support provided. Individual library skills support is not intended to provide general training in library skills or be a substitute for attending a training course or undertaking self-directed training.
Please note, support available may vary across the service and at different times of year depending on demand and staff availability.
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We offer individual library skills support to address specific research or accessibility needs, where a tailored approach is necessary. Librarians have limited capacity for providing individual library skills support, so we ask you first to pursue other support available through our programme of training sessions, online guidance and self-paced tutorials:
Where the support you require relates to a literature search, we expect you to already have defined your search concepts and terms, to have carried out a literature search in at least one resource and to have refined it as best as you are able, and to have specific queries relating to the search. See How should I prepare for my individual consultation?
In some cases, bookings for individual support may have been arranged as part of your academic programme. Please follow instructions as relevant.
We aim to respond to a request for individual support within 2 working days, and to resolve your request as soon as possible. Availability for individual support will vary depending on the nature and format of the support, current levels of demand and the availability of your librarian. During periods of high demand or staff absence, availability is limited. Please request support with notice and flexibility to avoid disappointment.
Depending on the nature of your research need, we may provide support by email or offer you an individual consultation. Individual consultations may be online (via MS Teams or Zoom) or face to face, depending on preferences and availability.
With the exception of individual consultations to support accessibility needs, you should already have fundamental skills and an understanding of library research processes relating to your research need prior to requesting an individual consultation. We advise that you attend a training session as part of our scheduled programme of sessions or timetabled into your academic programme and / or undertake self-paced learning and put that learning into practice prior to requesting individual support.
Where an individual consultation is considered necessary, preparation is key for getting the most out of the time available in the individual consultation.
Where the support you require relates to a literature search, we expect you to:
We may ask you to send us specific information about your search or send you some questions to consider ahead of an individual consultation. This helps ensure you are prepared for the consultation and helps us understand the stage you are at, how we might be able to help you, and how we can make the best use of the time available, including whether there is other training or preparatory work you should undertake ahead of an individual consultation.
Individual consultations are intended to provide support to address specific research or accessibility needs, where a tailored approach is necessary in relation to the library research process. We aim to address your immediate needs, ensure you have the skills to apply them in your research, and understand next steps to take.
Support is provided to the best of the ability of the member of library staff providing the support.
Availability for individual support varies and may be limited. We recommend you prepare for your individual consultation to maximise its benefit, as additional consultations cannot be guaranteed. See How should I prepare for my individual consultation?
Some of our joint UCL-NHS libraries offer a mediated literature search services for NHS to support clinical research or practice. Please enquire at the UCL library for your NHS Trust.
We can review a search strategy based on a visual inspection and provide feedback such as suggestions and guidance on structure and use of search syntax, as our capacity allows. See How soon should I expect individual support once I have made a request? The support we provide aims to address your immediate needs and support you in developing skills to apply in your research or for your studies.
Guidelines on systematic review methodology (e.g. Cochrane Handbook, PRISMA-S) recommend consultation with a librarian in developing the search strategy to ensure a comprehensive, robust and reproducible search strategy, but this may also be achieved through a process of peer review involving other researchers or experienced searchers. We recommend you check your search strategy against standard criteria.
The extent of librarian involvement that is practical, feasible, necessary or appropriate will depend on the nature and purpose of your research study.
We are unable to provide a full literature search checking service as a matter of course. Comprehensive checking of a search strategy for a systematic review is a lengthy process. It requires a thorough understanding of the parameters of the study and involves running and checking the search in all specified databases. Where this process is carried out by a librarian, this is usually in instances where they are part of the research team involved in the systematic review. Library staff at UCL usually do not have capacity to offer this service as part of their regular remit. In some instances, librarians may be part of the research team conducting a systematic review. If you require this service, please contact your librarian to enquire about availability. Where we are unable to provide this service, we may be able to provide details of relevant external agencies for search checking, who charge for their services.
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The support we offer in relation to systematic reviews, scoping reviews, and other similar studies is for the literature searching process. While library staff may have knowledge of other aspects of systematic review or scoping review methodology, such as screening, data extraction, risk of bias or synthesis, we advise you seek support elsewhere for these aspects.
See our guidance on stages of a Systematic Review for further information and links to additional resources.
Individual library skills support is available to address specific research needs where a tailored approach is considered necessary.
