UK PubMed Central: becoming the information resource of choice for the UK's life sciences research community

Abstract

Purpose

Supported by the UK's eight principle funders of biomedical and health research, UK PubMed Central (UKPMC) is being developed in close consultation with its intended user community – the researchers. This paper seeks to outline why there is a need to develop a UK‐specific version of this well‐known and very popular free service, and what practical approaches have taken towards bringing a Beta service live for all to use and feedback on.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach to development of UKPMC has been consultative and iterative. Through surveys, focus groups and one‐to‐one user tests the aim has been to develop a service which can fit neatly into a researcher's workflow. Coordinating the programme itself has required close collaboration between organisations which are quite diverse both culturally and administratively.

Findings

Through developing UKPMC, technology has been melded together with practical delivery. The text mining functionality that the service now offers is truly innovative, and there is further potential to develop this. The recently launched Beta service (beta.ukpmc.ac.uk) will continue to be honed – particularly its text mining functionality – through ongoing user consultation and feedback. It is perceived that this flexible approach to development is essential in offering a service that is truly useful for the UK's life sciences research community and offers a compelling reason to use it as a valid and ground breaking alternative to PubMed Central (the US version).

Originality/value

The originality and value of UKPMC should be judged by the research community. All life sciences researchers are invited to try the beta site.

Citation

Davey, P. (2010), "UK PubMed Central: becoming the information resource of choice for the UK's life sciences research community", Interlending & Document Supply, Vol. 38 No. 2, pp. 102-107. https://doi.org/10.1108/02641611011047178