LibEcon:International statistics and benchmarking of Libraries

1. LibEcon:International statistics and benchmarking of Libraries • LUXEMBOURG • MARCH 2004

2. LibEconINTRODUCTION • Funded by DGINFOS [3 years to June 2004] • Successor to LibEcon2000 • IPF coordinator • Website - www.libecon.org

3. LibEcon – Overview • Collects statistical data from a variety of sources • Checks and standardises • Publishes on website • Reports and newsletters • Makes available comparative library statistics and data tools which make possible standardised international comparisons • Creates a network of compilers of such statistics to support improved practice through standardisation • Encourages the use of the data by practitioners, policy makers and researchers • Supports the take up of ISO 2789 / 11620

4. Target Audiences • Producers of statistical data. • This is a scattered group which benefits from being exposed to European best practice and using the opportunity to benchmark on the best and improve standardisation and raise standards in their own countries. • Groups interested in advocating library development • Professionals, managers, policy makers, funders, suppliers and researchers interested in the library area.

5. What is available now? Statistical and benchmarking data covering: • All kinds of libraries • All EU and CEE countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland • Totals for EU accession countries • Expanding coverage worldwide • Data up to 2001 • Validated, standardised and grossed for missing data

6. Types of libraries Recognised by ISO and covered by LIBECON • National • Higher Education • Public • Special & Other (Government, Health/Medical, Professional, Industrial & Commercial, Media, Regional & Other) • School

8. What’s New … • Three more years’ data • New countries - • Australia; • Canada; • Korea; • New Zealand; • USA; • Japan; • Mexico; • Turkey; • OPEN TO ALL • Feasibility study into the collection of national Archives statistics • More specialised comparative tools

9. Macedonia Malta Moldova Serbia Ukraine Russia Work in progress: European countries currently approaching • Albania • Belarus • Bosnia • Croatia • Cyprus • Georgia

10. Aims and Objectives • Context and Previous Surveys • Objectives • Up to date monitor of scale & scope of libraries, inform policy direction & promote awareness of their impact • Provide framework & standardisation of data collection • Encourage best practice in data collection • Provide benchmarking information internationally

11. Impacts • All data, newsletter, benchmarking tools contacts lists available on the website • Statistics avoid language barriers • Users can access specific information needs (rather than whole reports) • Wider dissemination • Facilitate communication between producers and users

12. Problems and Solutions • Collect data that exists • Missing and incomplete data • Language problems • Spread and pilot take up of ISO 2789 • Spread information gathering across cultural sector (libraries, archives and museums)

13. Questionnaire example

14. Libraries Number of central and branches Collections Books, periodicals, other audio-visual, e-books & CD-ROMs Additions Books, audio-visual Facilities & Services % Stock on open access, seats, area, workstations, internet access Use & Users Users, physical & virtual visits Staff Trained and other Data Collected – Non Financial

15. Operating Expenditure Employees Stock Acquisition Electronic Information Automation Premises Buildings Other Income Government Grants Other Grants Income generated Capital Expenditure Buildings Stock Acquisition Automation Other Data Collected – Financial

16. Validation and Grossing Methodology • Guidance given where countries have only partial information for the sector on guidance • Data validation • Previous years data • Comparison with peers and per capita • UNESCO data and other sources

17. Validation and Grossing Methodology • Grossing methodology • Update previous years data using peer average trends • Refer to UNESCO data if available • Calculate using peer averages / per capita trends • Revalidate grossed data using data benchmarking tools

18. Headline Statistics for all Libraries • Libraries Data 1991 to 2002 • CEE, EFTA & EU • Service Points • Staffing

19. Headline Statistics for all Libraries • Numbers of visits, loan and registered members

20. Size of library sectors

21. Regional trends: spending on public libraries

22. Regional trends: workstations in public libraries

24. Online Database Results • Automatically generates “statistical maps”. • Regional groupings and individual country tabulated datasets. • Scatter graphs and histograms to highlight trends. • *.csv download.

25. Data Manipulation Models • Downloadable analysis programs • Focusing on a single sector • Ability to compare 2 figures graphically against user-defined groups • Comparison against totals including EU enlarged

26. Format of Results Histogram Rankings X-Y Scatter Graph

27. Headline Indicator Selector Select from a list of 10 indicator ratios for any country and sector against totals

28. Example of Usage of LIBECON • Comparison with selected peer countries or totals • Advocacy for sustained or further investment

29. National Library of Estonia in European national libraries contextAcquisition rate: proportion of acquisition expenditure from total expenditure

30. National Library of Estonia in European national libraries contextAcquisition expenditure (€) on population 000`s

31. National Library of Estonia in European national libraries context:Additions Books&Periodicals on population 000`s

32. National Library of Estonia in European national libraries context:Visits on population 000`s

33. National Library of Estonia in European national libraries context:Acquisition rate per user

34. Current issues • How can we create closer links with country coordinators? • How can we help drive improvements at national level? • What can LIBECON learn from national developments? • Sustainability – Within cultural sector statistics • Development of content • Modernisation [electronic indicators]. • Extension to new countries • Adoption of sampling methodologies?

35. Comments and Questions? • Martin.Jennings@ipf.co.uk