When libraries subscribe to new resources, encouraging patrons’ adoption of these services can be challenging. Moreover, when the resource offers access to a service or information type that is relatively unknown amongst patrons, such as altmetrics, the challenge is even greater. Altmetrics are data from the social web that can be used to track discussions and reuse of scientific outputs (journal articles, books, data sets, presentations, and beyond) across a variety of platforms like news outlets, scholarly peer review websites, social media, scholarly reference managers, and public policy documents. Promoting, consulting and conducting workshops are just some of the methods that libraries stimulate use of new resources. Some approaches work better than others.
In this paper, we discuss the joint approach of the Stephen B. Thacker Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s (CDC) Library training team and Altmetric to promote the use of an altmetrics database, Altmetric Explorer for Institutions, amongst CDC staff. These organizations worked together closely to offer training and consultations, each with complementary approaches
