Resource Guide for the Social Sciences: Signposting a Dissemination and Support Route for Barefoot and Meta-librarians in UK Higher Education

The Resource Guide for the Social Sciences pilot project aimed to trial a coordinated, national and subject-based approach to the promotion of publicly-funded networked resources for UK higher education and to provide a qualitative evaluation of methods. The resulting dissemination and support framework was intended to complement and add value to existing national and local activity. The pilot's success led to a subsequent two-year extension. Our pilot and subsequent findings align with those of Zeitlyn et al. (1999) and more recent research for Joseph Rowntree, highlighting the importance of social networks and an understanding of users' needs. The Resource Guide’s framework provides signposts to effective dissemination routes peopled by meta-librarians and 'barefoot librarians'1 using individual, institutional and combined approaches. Here we describe outcomes from the pilot and interim findings from the extension period, including adaptation of the framework to other subject areas.