Cranfield University is in the process of implementing a Current Research Information System (CRIS). The system is intended to ensure a single and accurate source of Cranfield’s research information to allow for effective planning, monitoring, reporting, communication and future modelling of its research activity. It will therefore play a key role in helping the University to prepare for the Research Excellence Framework (REF) in 2014. Phase one of the project, publications management, has recently been completed and the system is being rolled out to the University’s research communities.The article briefly describes the institutional context, the business case and the requirements for the new system and reflects on the lessons learned from this implementation.

Purpose The purpose of this paper is to describe the development of the Institutional Repository at Cranfield University – Cranfield QUEprints ( http://dspace.lib.cranfield.ac.uk ). Design/methodology/approach The paper describes the methodologies involved in acquiring research output, and covers advocacy strategies, policies, and also provides data on cost and usage. Findings The Cranfield QUEprints is a managed repository where the archiving is undertaken by library staff. This has proved to be a successful method of acquiring research outputs and increasing content. Selected methods of persuading academics to contribute to the IR, including personal contact, and marketing information, have also proved successful. Research limitations/implications That the report is specific to an institution, but provides experiences that will be generally applicable. Originality/value The paper provides reassurance that, when it comes to populating an institutional repository, an alternative method to self‐archiving can be successful and cost‐effective. It is hoped that the descriptions provided in the paper will provide encouragement to institutions currently without an IR that there are no insurmountable barriers to the development of such a system.

The paper describes a recent Joint Information Systems Committee (JISC) funded project, the aim of which was to analyse library usage data from selected e-journal deals negotiated by the JISC within the NESLi2 initiative. The project began in May 2004 and examined usage data from four publishers and 17 libraries. The aims, methodology, conclusions and recommendations of the project are included. Owing to confidentiality agreements with publishers and libraries, it is possible to share only a limited amount of usage data.

Purpose To describe the issues involved in the introduction of mandatory submission of electronic theses at Cranfield University. Design/methodology/approach Background information on how the availability of e‐theses has developed at Cranfield University is provided along with discussions and advice on issues such as the choice of software, thesis submission workflow and timeframes, particularly in relation to the publication of thesis‐related articles. It also looks at metadata issues as well as both retrieval and usage of electronic theses. Finally it describes how the service has expanded from e‐theses to other types of material and to the development and expansion of an institutional repository for Cranfield. Findings It is shown that there are a number of issues that will need to be addressed from the points of view of librarians, academic staff and registry staff and that one effective method of managing the process is to set up a working group with all stakeholders in the process. There is a clear need for administrative procedures to be discussed in detail and a recognition that the time involved in changing regulations may be significant. Practical implications It is clear that most of the issues that have arisen at Cranfield as outlined in the paper will be mirrored at other institutions that are considering the same changes, and so those institutions looking at the area of e‐thesis submission may gain some useful insights. Originality/value This paper provides useful advice on the issues that will arise as institutions go through the process of introducing the mandatory submission of electronic theses.

Serials: The Journal for the Serials Community has been digitised and can be accessed in full on this website. All content is freely available on an open-access basis. Serials was published between 1988 and 2011. In 2012, the journal was retitled and is now published as Insights: the UKSG journal.

This article reports the results of the third year of the BIODOC service at Cranfield University, which confirm the conclusions arising from the previous two years of the service. The primary focus of the paper is the impact of the project on our customers, particularly in terms of information-seeking behaviour, and the implications for librarians managing a supply on demand service.

Cranfield University is based on several campuses, providing teaching and research in a number of areas related to science, technology and management. Postgraduate courses and research are the primary interests of Cranfield campus, which is witnessing growing demand for part‐time and distance learning courses, and for remote support to research students. Its Library and Information Services need to consider the extent to which the ‘virtual library’ can provide effective access to and delivery of information. To be effective, numerous electronic sources should be seamlessly integrated and there are several possible ways to achieve this. The Internet is becoming seen as a valuable tool for information management but work is needed to develop its use as an information resource. The Cranfield University Internet Site Explorer (CRUISE) , which is Cranfield's gateway to Internet resources, is discussed and the issues surrounding the provision of such a service are addressed.

Cranfield University's BIODOC project aims to explore a number of key issues m the current debate over access versus holdings. This is an interim study of user perceptions and responses to an experimental service in which a number of existing Biotechnology journal subscriptions were replaced by a wholly access-based service.

Explains the background, context and operation of the Cranfield University Library BIODOC Research Project which explores key issues in the access versus journal holdings debate. Hopes to test whether an access model of provision in certain circumstances provides more cost effective and appropriate information support than the traditional in‐house collection. The project involves the cancellation of all the library journal subscriptions for the Biotechnology Centre and their replacement by the UnCover Reveal current contents service and as document supply from a number of sources. Describes the factors such as rising periodical costs, availability of new electronic document delivery services, increasing use of e‐mail by academics that led to the experiment; and the reasons for the selection of the Biotechnology Centre as an appropriate partner. Describes the project management and everyday operation of the project and the design of the project to include data collection for evaluation. Includes consideration of the issue of copyright.

Explains the ways in which real estate and real estate valuations can be shown in financial statements. Assists the valuer to better understand the context in which they are working and the uses to which the valuation may be put. Concludes that valuers should fully understand the context in which their valuation will appear in the accounts and the risk therefore attached to their work before giving their client permission to incorporate a revaluation into financial statements.

Cranfield Institute of Technology has completed the testing of an interlibrary loans module from SLS (Information Systems) Ltd. which forms part of the LIBERTAS integrated library system. This is significant in that it is one of very few integrated interlibrary loans facilities. The basic aim of this article is to describe the workings of the module in general terms and to discuss some of the implications for libraries. It describes the main problems, both in the installation and in the system itself, and the main advantages, specifically the addition of increased numbers of access points, the loan analyses available, the chasing regimes for lenders and the overall saving of staff time.