What role do librarians play in altmetrics?

Purpose : Our aim is to identify the steps that librarians can take concerning altmetrics within the framework of the research support services offered by librarians. Design/Methodology/Approach : The current bibliography on altmetrics has been reviewed, especially that which refers to librarians. A survey has also been carried out of librarians of Spanish universities to find out their degree of involvement in the matter and the setting up of relevant initiatives. Findings : Librarians have an important role in the disseminating of altmetrics and in the training of using them in the best interests of their researchers’ scientific publications. This role is also important as assessors for the administration in order to value these metrics in university processes, as well as their inclusion in catalogs, databases or repositories. Research limitations/implications: Limitations are the reduced size of the population of the surveys, especially their being limited to a single country. Likewise, a thorough study which would enable librarians to find out about the use which their researchers make of social networks and the interest that they may have in altmetrics is needed. Practical implications: This research offers a user guide for librarians as an orientation in their activities and initiatives related to altmetrics, as well as a list of arguments which justify the reasons why librarians should undertake these initiatives. Originality/Value : We contribute a view of altmetrics from the perspective of librarians as a strategic element of dissemination and training in altmetrics