The document summarizes research conducted to inform the development of online information services for UK students and academics. Focus groups found that students rely heavily on Google and specific databases for research but lack organization and skills. While open to new resources, students were skeptical of user reviews and ratings due to concerns about reliability. Librarians saw a need to improve students' research skills but faced challenges integrating training. Web 2.0 technologies were unfamiliar to most students, who were cautious about adopting new tools without clear educational benefits.

1. How do UK students, researchers and academics use the Web? Caroline Williams Executive Director of Intute and Mimas Deputy Director Lisa Charnock Intute Communications Officer, Mimas

6. Key question… How do humanities researchers prefer to receive Mimas services? … by aggregated search facilities or by links to other Mimas services?

8. Discussion process: Respondents kept research ‘diaries’ ahead of groups: used to prompt these discussions… Introductions and ‘ warm-up’ Outline and discussion of online research practices Discussion of Mimas: awareness, familiarity, individual services etc. Views on possible aggregation of services – prompted by interface mock-ups 1 2 Discussion of common frustrations, problems etc. 3 4 5

12. Typical research practices – common themes: Mindmap Resources: General and Specialised – used for different purposes Importance of habit Habits deepen over time Importance of ‘search inside’ Some supervisor influence – especially early on Expectation of direct access online to resources, docs, journals etc. Lack of contact / chances to refresh skills and range of resources used Postgraduate students: ‘private worlds’ Unsophisticated use of ICT No strong desire to change Little personalisation / saving / organisation of searches Constant anxiety about delivering new research Little awareness or usage of alerts (journals, articles etc.) (However…)

22. Objectives: Web 2.0 – overall purpose of research… To understand how the HE communities interact with potential Web 2.0 approaches to the delivery of Intute services: if they will be used; how they could be used and what aspects are used for what purpose.

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