Author: Marié Roux (Page 1 of 19)

In the series of interviews with students and academic staff, we interviewed Josie Hemphill for this edition, a postgraduate student in Law. Read more here about the Library’s impact on her studies and research:

Tell us briefly about your research and your postgraduate journey.

My postgraduate journey started with my LLM, where I explored children’s right to participation in the context of divorce proceedings, arguing that mediation offers children a more meaningful avenue for participation than traditional civil proceedings. That work sparked a broader interest in children’s rights that I’ve carried into my LLD.

I began my doctoral studies with a different topic, but after some reflection we revised my focus this January to my current proposal: “Does the Child Justice Act adequately protect children’s rights? An analysis of the MACR and sentencing provisions in the South African context.” My research examines the Minimum Age of Criminal Responsibility and sentencing provisions in the Child Justice Act through a children’s rights lens, drawing on the UNCRC and ACRWC principles of the best interests of the child, the child’s right to participation, and the evolving capacities of the child, to assess whether South Africa’s child justice framework truly upholds children’s rights.

The library has been an invaluable part of this journey, particularly in helping me source materials as I transitioned to this new topic earlier this year.

What role has the library played in your postgraduate studies?

The library has played an integral role throughout my postgraduate studies, particularly in helping me source materials. This was especially valuable earlier this year when I revised the focus of my LLD topic and needed to build up a new body of literature relatively quickly.

My research involves a comparative analysis with Brazil and New Zealand, and Pieter du Plessis, Faculty Librarian for Law, has been instrumental in helping me source materials from both of these jurisdictions. He has gone above and beyond, particularly when I’ve struggled to locate specific sources, he has helped me find them directly or identified closely related sources that served the same purpose.

More broadly, the library’s support has taken several forms: helping me locate and access sources, assisting with borrowing books from our own library, facilitating access to materials from other university libraries and online databases, and helping me track down physical texts, including through interlibrary loans. This support has been essential to the depth and breadth of the research I’ve been able to conduct. 

Does the library provide a sense of community or connection during what can sometimes be an isolated postgraduate journey?

Yes, definitely. As I work from home for the most part, my three dogs make it difficult to be away for long periods, and living off campus adds to that distance, so I don’t get to visit the library as often as I’d like. Despite this, my online correspondence with Pieter has been a real source of connection. It’s a regular reminder that I’m not navigating this research alone, and that support is only a message away.

When I do make it onto campus, I’m always warmly welcomed by the library staff. They’re helpful with returning and taking out books, and always happy to chat, which genuinely brightens my day. Even though I’m not physically at the library often, these interactions, whether online or in person, have shown me that help is readily available and that the staff is always willing to assist whenever questions or difficulties come up. That accessibility and warmth have made the postgraduate journey feel a lot less isolating.

Can you tell us about a time when a librarian or library service made a real difference to you?

Pieter has helped me on so many occasions in locating sources, particularly given the sheer breadth of material a doctorate demands. Whenever I struggle to find something, which happens fairly often at this level of research, I email him, and his response is almost immediate, either with the source attached or a clear plan for tracking it down, whether that’s an interlibrary loan or arranging a copy from another institution.

One instance in particular stands out. Earlier this year, while researching the promulgation history of the Child Justice Act in South Africa, I needed reports from the 1990s that exist only as physical copies and aren’t available online. I had exhausted what I could find through the library website and reached out to Pieter, somewhat as a last resort. He responded immediately, letting me know I could collect the copies we already had on hand the very next day, with the remaining materials, sourced from other libraries, following a few days later. That kind of prompt, hands-on assistance made a huge difference to my research at a critical point, and it’s stayed with me as a real example of the value the library adds to postgraduate work.

Further, the online law library channel has allowed me to easily access sources from other subscription sites such as Juta and HeinOnline, as well as the online textbooks that are readily available. These have helped me immensely in my postgraduate journey.

Which library resource or service has been most valuable to your research, and why?

As is probably clear from my previous answers, Pieter has been my most valuable resource. He’s officially the librarian for the law faculty, but his role in my research has gone far beyond that title. He’s been a guiding light throughout this process, seemingly with an endless well of knowledge and an equally endless willingness to help. Whether it’s tracking down an obscure source, arranging interlibrary loans, or simply offering guidance when I’ve hit a wall, his assistance has been consistently kind, prompt, and invaluable. It’s difficult to put into words just how much of a difference his support has made, but I can honestly say my research would not be where it is today without him.

Has the library helped you overcome a particular research challenge?

I would say this has already been answered through previous questions on sourcing different material that I was unable to find independently.

What have you been able to achieve because of the library’s support?

Because of the library’s support, and Pieter’s assistance in particular, I’ve been able to build a solid and wide-ranging body of literature for my LLD, even after having to pivot to a new topic partway through this year. I’ve been able to source material for my comparative analysis of Brazil and New Zealand, materials that would otherwise have been difficult to access, and to track down historical, physical-only sources such as 1990s reports on the promulgation of the Child Justice Act that were essential to understanding the legislative history behind my topic.

Beyond specific sources, the library’s support has given me the confidence to pursue a thorough, well-substantiated analysis, knowing that if I struggle to find something, help is readily available. This has allowed me to focus my energy on the actual research and writing, rather than being held back by access to sources, which has been instrumental in the progress I’ve made on my proposal and will continue to be as I move further into my doctorate. 

If the library wasn’t available to you, what would be different about your research experience?

Without the library’s support, my research experience would look very different, and considerably more difficult. Given the breadth of sources a doctorate demands, and the added complexity of a comparative analysis spanning South Africa, Brazil, and New Zealand, I would likely have spent far more time simply trying to locate materials rather than actually engaging with and analysing them. Sources like the 1990s physical-only reports on the Child Justice Act’s promulgation may never have been found at all, since they weren’t accessible through the website and required someone with the knowledge and means to track them down through other institutions.

Working mostly from home, without Pieter’s prompt assistance and the wider library staff’s willingness to help, I also think the process would have felt far more isolating. There would have been no one readily available to turn to when I hit a wall, and I likely would have had to make do with more limited, more accessible sources rather than the ones that best served my research. In short, the library hasn’t just supported my research, it has shaped how thorough and well-grounded I’ve been able to make it.

If you had to describe the impact of the library on your postgraduate journey in one sentence, what would you say?

The library, and Pieter in particular, has been the quiet backbone of my research, turning what could have been an isolating and source-limited journey into one where help, knowledge, and connection have always been just an email away.

If you could ask the library to introduce one new service for postgraduate researchers, what would it be?

I have honestly taken time to think about this and have come up almost empty-handed. I think one service that would be ideal for Postgraduate students could be a dedicated postgraduate helpdesk. As someone who works mostly from home and isn’t able to visit campus often, the kind of support I’ve received from Pieter has been invaluable, and having a structured way for other postgrads in similar situations to access that same level of personalised help, without needing to be on campus, would make a real difference.

The Manuscripts Section in Special Collections houses approximately 460 documentary heritage collections covering a wide range of subjects. These unique primary sources contribute towards research into and preservation of South Africa’s cultural heritage.

Joanna Marx was a leading South African heritage conservationist who dedicated decades of her life to preserving Mostert’s Mill, the oldest working traditional windmill in Africa. After her death, her documents were donated to the Library. The collection was received in September 2012 and the inventory was completed in June 2023 to provide researchers with easy access to the diverse documents within this valuable collection.

The wealth of information in this collection, which comprises approximately 24 metres of documentary material, has not yet been fully explored. It consists, among other things, of her own research, correspondence, articles, lectures, talks and conference contributions on heritage in South Africa, as well as in the Netherlands and Britain. Documents on national and international mills also comprise a large part of the collection.

Her research outputs are supplemented by documents such as legislation, illustrations, maps, photographs, slides, plans, newspaper clippings, pamphlets and brochures on towns, buildings, museums and monuments.

This collection is an excellent example of the unique documents used in interdisciplinary research. It is regularly used by staff as an example to make researchers and students aware of and introduce them to the diversity within collections and the value of preserving documents that form the basis for the protection of South Africa’s cultural heritage.

The Joanna Marx collection has many points of contact with and is supplemented by other collections in Special Collections, including the James Walton, André Pretorius, Marthinus van Bart, H.B. Thom and Frans Smuts collections.

Author: Marieta Buys

The Library and Information Service is proud to present its Annual Report 2025, reflecting another year of achievements and milestones marked by innovation, collaboration, open science and a strong commitment to supporting Stellenbosch University’s teaching, learning and research priorities.

Highlights from the year include the completion of the Immersive Technology Lab (ITL), an ultramodern, fully immersive environment designed to integrate data visualisation literacy training, advanced visualisation services and immersive headset experiences. We also welcomed the Collection of South African poet Ingrid Jonker, whose documentary legacy was repatriated after decades abroad and will be preserved in the Library’s Manuscripts Section for future generations.

The Theology Library was upgraded to create a brighter, more inviting environment, with reconfigured shelving, collaborative and multifunctional spaces, modern study tables with docking stations and areas with soft seating. International Open Access Week marked the 15th anniversary of Stellenbosch University’s signing of the Berlin Declaration on Open Access, while the Library took the lead in introducing three Open Access Awards as an additional category in the University’s Research and Innovation Excellence Awards.

Our annual Library Research Week, held under the theme “Partners for research impact”, brought academics together to explore the research lifecycle, with a strong focus on intellectual exchange, practical insights, collaboration and innovation.

The Library’s achievements were recognised through the MACE Excellence Awards, with a gold award for our Annual Report 2023 and bronze awards for our Discover. Connect. Learn. Succeed. video and Turning pages: 30 years of democracy exhibition. We also co-hosted the Figshare User Group (South Africa) Conference with Digital Science – the first event of its kind in Africa – affirming the Library’s leading position in open science on the continent.

The Annual Report showcases how the Library continues to evolve through innovation, collaboration and a commitment to preserving knowledge while creating new opportunities for our University community.

Read the full report to discover more about the achievements, initiatives and people that shaped 2025.

For more information, please contact Theresa Schoeman.

What does a Faculty Librarian do beyond managing books and databases?

Stellenbosch University Library recently provided a practical legal research training session for a group of Hasselt University law students from Belgium, who were visiting South Africa as interns at the Stellenbosch University Law Clinic.

The Hasselt internship forms part of the longstanding collaboration between Hasselt University and Stellenbosch University’s Faculty of Law. Since 2022, Hasselt law students have participated in the SU Law Clinic’s international student internship programme, gaining practical exposure to South African legal practice while developing their own professional and clinical legal skills.

The interns’ time at the Law Clinic allows them to experience the South African legal environment first-hand. During their internship, they engage with the Clinic’s work and gain exposure to practical legal activities, including client consultations and court-related work.

It was within this context that the SU Law Library hosted the interns for a dedicated legal research training session on 16 July 2026.

Beyond Databases

The training, presented by the Law Librarian, was designed to do more than introduce the interns to South African law databases. The central aim was to help them understand how to approach a legal research problem, analyse a research topic, develop an effective search strategy and identify the most appropriate sources for their research.

Because the Hasselt students come from a different law and academic environment, the session also provided an opportunity to introduce them to the South African legal research landscape and the particular resources available to researchers at Stellenbosch University.

Research Focus

One of the key themes of the training was analysing a research topic before beginning the search.

The interns were taken through the process of breaking a research topic down into its main concepts and identifying important legal terminology, alternative terms and related concepts. The interns were then introduced to the Search Strategy Builder Tool available through the SU Law Library LibGuide. The tool provides a practical way of developing keywords and structuring a search strategy before beginning a database search.

The session demonstrated that effective research is not simply about entering a question into a search box. Rather, it involves the following process:

Scholarly Searching

The session began with resources familiar to most students, including Google, Google Scholar and Google Books, before progressing to specialised legal research databases.

The interns explored Google Scholar’s library-link settings and advanced search functions, including the use of Boolean operators and targeted searches. Google Books was also explored through searches relating to South Africa, unlawful evictions and civil procedure.

Discovering the SU LibGuide for Law

The interns were also introduced to the SU LibGuide for Law. The LibGuide provides a central starting point for accessing the law databases, electronic books, journals, online textbooks and other research resources. The interns were encouraged to explore the different sections of the guide rather than limiting themselves to the database links they already knew. Open Access resources such as GlobaLex and the OA online textbooks were also highlighted.

Exploring Lexis+ SA

A substantial part of the training focused on Lexis+ SA, with practical examples drawn from South African legal research. The interns worked through the platform’s Content Areas, including Civil Procedure and South African case law. One example involved locating Hlobo v Multilateral Motor Vehicle Accidents Fund [2001] 1 All SA 322 (A) and examining the different ways in which the case could be researched.

Legal Citator

An important feature of the Lexis+ training was the Legal Citator. The interns were shown the different features of the tool and, importantly, how it can assist law students in investigating the treatment of cases by subsequent courts. The session emphasised that finding a case is not necessarily the end of the research process. Researchers should investigate what happened to that authority afterwards and determine whether it has been followed, distinguished, criticised, overturned or otherwise considered.

Exploring Juta

The interns were also introduced to Juta, with the training focusing on advanced search functions and South African resources. Practical examples included searches relating to emolument attachment orders and garnishee orders, as well as the use of Juta Law Reports to identify cases through flynotes and headnotes.

South African Research

The training concluded with electronic journals and databases, including HeinOnline and Sabinet. The comparison between HeinOnline and Sabinet also reinforced an important research principle that no single database will necessarily provide everything a researcher needs. Effective research often requires researchers to move between different platforms and types of sources.

International Research Skills

For the Hasselt interns, the session provided more than an introduction to South African law databases. It offered an opportunity to develop research skills that can be applied across jurisdictions and throughout their future legal careers.

The training also demonstrated the important role played by the SU Library in supporting the Law Clinic’s internationalisation and experiential-learning initiatives. By combining research strategy, topic analysis, database searching, legal citation tools and the effective use of the Law Library LibGuide, the session aimed to equip the interns with practical skills they could immediately apply during their time at the Clinic.

Author: Grace van Niekerk

The Library recently subscribed to two Digital Science tools, namely Dimensions and Altmetric Explorer. In this blog post we would like to highlight the functionalities of Altmetric Explorer, a tool with which you can track and analyse the online attention and societal impact of your publications. It is a per-article metric and captures real-time, non-traditional digital engagement, also known as “altmetrics” and it shows if a work is influencing public policy, making headlines in the news, or being discussed on social media.

The number of citations to an article have been the single measure for the success of research for a long time. While citation counts and the h-index remain valuable indicators of scholarly output, they do have two limitations, namely time-lag and a narrow audience.

The time-lag

After a researcher publishes a work, it can take two to five years for other scholars to read the paper, do their own experiments, write their articles, and finally publish a new paper that formally cites the original work.

The audience

Traditional metrics are created within a narrow academic audience. They tell you how many other scholars are citing your work, but they do not take into account everyone else who might have read your work or have discussed it in online platforms.

Image created with ChatGPT

Altmetric Explorer solves three main issues related to the evaluation of research output:

1. The time lag is eliminated, because online attention is tracked in real-time which allows researchers to track early engagement with their work.
2. Altmetric also tracks mentions in global policy documents, patents, and clinical guidelines.
3. It has a way to quantify public engagement, by mapping broader conversations in news items, blogs, wikipedia and social media.

The image below is a screenshot of a researcher’s timeline page on Altmetric Explorer. Here you can see that the researcher published work with a large attention score around 2021-2022. You can also see exactly how many mentions came from the array of different tools (social media, news outlets, blogs, etc) and click through to see the actual posts. There are many more pages per researcher profile to explore the data compiled by Altmetric and you are able to download the data.

Coming Wednesday, Digital Science will present a training session on both Dimensions and Altmetric Explorer. Please register here if you would like to learn more about these two tools.

Read more:

https://www.altmetric.com/blog/

https://www.altmetric.com/case-studies/

https://www.altmetric.com/whitepapers/

https://www.altmetric.com/about-us/our-data/our-sources/

Enquiries: Marié Roux

One of the most thought-provoking discussions during the Reimagining the Archive in the Post-Truth Era conference, where I presented my paper Archives and Other Repositories in the Age of Misinformation and Conspiracy Theories, centred on the concept of archival silences. My discussion reinforced an important reminder for archivists and researchers alike: archives are defined not only by what they preserve, but also by what they do not contain.

In our work at Special Collections, we frequently encounter researchers who expect archives to provide a complete account of the past. Many assume that additional records exist somewhere beyond the collections we hold, waiting to be discovered. Others interpret gaps in the documentary record as evidence that information has been deliberately hidden or destroyed. In an era shaped by misinformation, conspiracy theories, and declining trust in institutions, these assumptions are becoming increasingly common.

Archival scholars have long cautioned against viewing archives as complete or neutral repositories of truth. Every archival collection reflects choices about what was created, preserved, described, and made accessible. Consequently, every archive contains silences. Archives are products of complex processes of creation, selection, appraisal, and preservation. Records do not simply survive by chance; they are shaped by institutional priorities, legal requirements, social values, available resources, and historical circumstances. As a result, archival collections inevitably contain gaps, omissions, and missing voices that reflect the contexts in which they were formed.

These silences should not automatically be interpreted as evidence of concealment or conspiracy. Records may never have been created, they may have been lost through neglect, disaster, or deterioration, or they may reflect historical collecting practices that overlooked or excluded particular communities and perspectives. While deliberate destruction of records has occurred throughout history, it is only one of many reasons why archival gaps exist.

Understanding archival silences encourages researchers to move beyond asking, “Where are the missing records?” Instead, they begin asking more meaningful questions: Why are these records absent? Who created the records that survive? Whose voices were documented, and whose were excluded? These questions promote critical engagement with evidence rather than assumptions based solely on absence.

For archivists, this highlights an important responsibility. Our role is not only to preserve and provide access to records but also to help researchers understand the nature of archival evidence. By explaining how archives are formed—and why silences are inevitable—we foster archival literacy and critical thinking. In the age of artificial intelligence and technological advances, this understanding is essential. Archives remain among our most reliable sources of evidence, but their value lies not in claiming completeness, but in helping us interpret both what is present and what is absent with care, context, and transparency.

These gaps we see in records such as the Wilgenhof collection for example. The public interest intensified during the debates surrounding the so-called artefact’s discovered in the residence, with differing interpretations of their significance raising questions about heritage, memory, and the role of archives in preserving contested histories. During periods of increased interest in the residence’s history, Special Collections received enquiries from students, academic staff, and researchers requesting access to materials related to Wilgenhof. These interactions revealed a recurring assumption that archives contain complete and exhaustive documentation of institutional history. While some users assumed that Special Collections held a complete documentary record of Wilgenhof’s history, the collection itself consists of specific donated materials, including reunion publications, newsletters, choir records, and clippings. Like many archival collections, it reflects what was donated and preserved rather than a comprehensive account of all events and activities associated with the residence. The assumption that archives contain complete records can lead to frustration when gaps are encountered. However, such gaps are a normal feature of archival collections and reflect the realities of record creation, survival, donation, and preservation.

Author: Busi Mofu

The Library is running a survey from 12 August to 18 September, the Library Life Pulse Survey. The discontinuation of LibQUAL+ , the survey tool used worldwide by academic libraries previously, limited the available options and reinforced this choice to use the Library Life Pulse Survey. This decision was informed by the tool’s focus on measuring impact and user experience, its flexibility in allowing non-core questions to be tailored to specific requirements, and its increasing adoption by academic libraries in South Africa and internationally, which enables benchmarking.

This will be an opportunity to tell us what YOU love about using Stellenbosch University’s Library and Information Service and let us know how we could improve. The survey, which is open to all students and staff, will help us to understand what is important to you and will inform the development of our services to support you as part of the University community. Alterline, an independent research agency, will administer the survey.

All responses will be reported anonymously, meaning that your feedback will not be linked to you in any way. You will receive an invitation to complete the survey, which should fit perfectly into a quick tea break and then you can choose to be entered into a prize draw by entering your email address at the end of the survey. Ten lucky respondents will win a R1 000 voucher. The draw takes place at the end of September and Alterline will choose winners at random.

Enquiries: Bronwyn Bruton

Planning where to publish and aligning publication choices with the university’s ‘read and publish’ agreements is essential for maximising Open Access (OA) publishing opportunities while minimising article processing charges (APCs) (Jarvis 2026). Stellenbosch University (SU) Library and Information Service leverages these agreements to support researchers by enabling them to publish their research articles OA in eligible hybrid journals without paying APCs, while also offering discounted APCs of between 10% and 55% for eligible fully OA journal titles. While these agreements have significantly reduced financial barriers to publishing, it is important to remember that not all agreements provide unlimited OA publishing (Hunter 2019).

The question that may arise for an SU-affiliated researcher is: “Why should I check the publishing allocations now?” To answer this question, please refer to the article titled: Update on Open Access publishing options for SU researchers for context. Some of these agreements include a capped number of articles that can be published OA at no direct cost to authors each year, while others offer unlimited OA publishing under the agreement. This article aims to highlight to SU authors those agreements that have thus far reached below 50% of their annual capped number of publications without paying APCs.

While some publishers, such as Sage Publishing, Elsevier, and The Company of Biologists, offer unlimited OA publishing under the ‘read and publish’ agreements, others operate on shared institutional allocations that may be exhausted before the end of the calendar year. To help SU researchers make informed publishing decisions, the Library and Information Service continuously monitors the utilisation of these allocations and has identified publishers that have reached approximately 50% of their annual quota. At the time of writing, Springer Nature has a remaining national allocation of 529 articles, while Taylor & Francis has 649 remaining for the year 2026. Researchers considering publication with these publishers are therefore encouraged to plan their submissions accordingly.

Wiley operates under a different funding model. While OA publishing in Wiley’s eligible hybrid journals is uncapped, publications in Wiley’s fully OA journals are supported through a shared national publication fund rather than an article allocation. Under this arrangement, authors from participating institutions may publish in eligible fully OA journals without paying APCs, provided sufficient funds remain available in the national publication fund at the time the manuscript is accepted for publication. For this reason, we encourage SU researchers intending to publish OA through SU’s ‘read and publish’ agreement to reach out to the SU library for OA publishing support.

For enquiries about SU ‘read and publish’ agreements or any other OA-related matters, please contact Sizwe Ngcobo.

References

• Hunter, P.  2019.  The deal with DEAL for open access: the recent publish-and-read deals have increased momentum for open-access publishing but may not solve the challenge of open science. EMBO reports. 21(1). 1-3.
• Jarvis, C . 2026.  Invisible labor in open access: A case study of read & publish agreement administration at the University of Utah. The Journal of Academic Librarianship. 52(5). 1-4.

In a series of interviews with researchers and students to share their views on the impact the Library has on supporting their research, we had an interview with Dr Philani Zincume, a Senior Lecturer from the Department of Industrial Engineering.

Herewith more about Dr Zincume from his Researcher Profile at Stellenbosch University:

Dr. Philani Nduna Zincume, commonly referred to as Dr. Zee, is an Engineering Management researcher studying how organisations develop the capability to successfully implement socio-technical innovations. His research seeks to understand the leadership, governance and organisational capabilities required to translate engineering and digital innovations into sustainable organisational performance. His work draws on Engineering Management, Socio-Technical Systems and Systems Thinking, with applications in digital transformation, Industry 5.0, operational excellence and engineering organisations. He currently holds positions at Stellenbosch University, the University of Stellenbosch Business School, and SKEMA International Business School.

Which services of the Library do you use often?

I frequently use the Library’s online databases, electronic journals and research support services. I also value the assistance of faculty librarians, particularly when conducting literature reviews and locating specialised sources.

What is the most significant way the Library supports your research?

Access to high-quality academic databases and journals is probably the most significant support.

How does the Library’s expertise and support save you time?

Library staff have helped me identify appropriate databases, refine search strategies and access sources that may otherwise be difficult to locate (this particularly helped me a lot when I was completing my PhD).

How have consultation services assisted with research data and compliance?

Library guidance on data management plans, responsible data storage and institutional requirements helps clarify what is expected throughout the research process. This is particularly helpful for me when preparing research proposals and ethics applications.

What role does the Library play in open access publication and funding?

The Library helps researchers understand open access publishing options, identify reputable journals and navigate available funding arrangements for article-processing charges. This makes the publication process more accessible and helps researchers avoid potentially predatory journals.

Is the Library proactive in offering services aligned with your research needs?

Yes. The Library regularly communicates new resources, training opportunities and developments relating to research support, open access and data management. Workshops and individual consultations are particularly useful because they respond to changing research and publication requirements.

If you could change one service, what would it be?

I would introduce more discipline-specific, short training sessions tailored to researchers at different stages of a project. For example, focused sessions on advanced literature searching, systematic reviews, research data management and selecting suitable journals would be valuable.

Interview conducted with Dr Zincume via email 

The Library has subscribed to two new Digital Science databases, namely Dimensions and Altmetric Explorer. They are both now available via the Library’s A-Z database list. We are excited to share this news since both these tools will enhance information retrieval and research evaluation methods at Stellenbosch University.

Dimensions is a vast database that indexes more than 150 million publications, millions of grants from global funders, datasets, and patents. This means that it focuses on mapping the full research lifecycle across diverse datasets. It is also described as a highly exhaustive, linked-data platform, while Scopus and Web of Science (WoS) act as strictly curated, publication-focused citation databases.

Dimensions database includes the following approximate counts for individual content categories:

• Publications: ~164 million
• Patent records: ~170 million
• Datasets: ~42 million
• Grants: ~8.1 million
• Preprints: ~4.3 million
• Policy documents: ~2.5 million
• Clinical trials: ~938 thousand

Herewith a comparison with the journal coverage of Scopus and Web of Science:.

Dimensions’ analytical feature offers visual breakdowns of bibliometrics, citation trends (such as Field-Weighted Citation Ratios), co-authorship networks, and funding sources. Its integration with the network analysis tool, VOSViewer, is helpful to view built-in network visualisations related to co-occurrence keywords, co-authors, co-citations, etc.

Altmetric Explorer, on the other hand, is a tool that evaluates impact by means of non-traditional online attention (altmetrics) given to academic research and scholarly outputs. Altmetric monitors mainstream media, social networks, policy documents, Wikipedia, blogs, and patents for mentions of research items. It also aggregates data into visual dashboards showing demographics, attention over time, geographic reach, and specific sources.

A training session will take place in September, which will offer demonstrations on how to use these two tools effectively. The specific date and time will be communicated soon.

Enquiries: Marié Roux