GRLC Statistics Project Overview Aug 2011
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Transcript of GRLC Statistics Project Overview Aug 2011
Geelong Library Statistics Project2010-2011
Alan Howell: Business Analyst
1 August 2011
GRLCAcknowledgementsStatistics in librariesData challenges at GRLCDriversOutputsStatusKey findingsReferences
Contents
Autonomous body created 1997: 4 member councils
Borough of Queenscliffe
City of Greater Geelong
Golden Plains Shire
Surf Coast Shire
5,512 km2, 5 zones, 13 branches (4 more soon) and 3 mobiles
1,271,716 visits (up 13%)
2,483,015 loans (up 8%)
95,101 members (up 3%)?
GRLC
Terry Aquino, Hume City Council
Tom Edwards, Wyndham City Council
Les Firth, Yarra Plenty Regional Library Corporation
Margaret Pembroke, Southern Cross University
Briengan Rogers, Corangamite Regional Library Corporation
Sara Wisnia, Moonee Valley City Council
Staff at GRLC
Acknowledgements
Statistical data are indispensable for the internal management of libraries, but they can do more. When presented to policy makers, funding institutions or the general public, they will influence the strategic planning, and they can create and maintain confidence in libraries.
Library statistics can reveal a wealth of material, of hidden success stories where libraries have opened and ensured access to relevant information for all groups of the population.
IFLA Library Statistics Manifesto, 2008
Statistics in libraries
Current system very good at recording activity but …
Centralised, cumbersome and inflexible
Not designed to inform decision-making about key business questions
Lacks targets and ‘what-if’ tools
Lacks evidential audit trail
Only partly aligned with the organisation’s reporting and compliance requirements
Only partly aligned with ISO 2789:2006, International Library Statistics and ISO 11620:2008, Library Performance Indicators
Data challenges at GRLC
What statistics are needed to effectively and efficiently meet the organisation’s reporting and compliance requirements?
What statistics and tools are needed by the executive to inform decision-making about services, resources, staffing and buildings?
What statistics and tools are needed by the zone and library leaders so that they can effectively manage day-to-day services?
How can these statistics be easily collected, analysed, presented, preserved and meet evidential requirements in a timely manner?
Drivers
Audit and map of the existing system
Core set of data elements and performance indicators produced to documented and auditable standards (ISO 2789 and ISO 11620)
Best practice in library statistics
Tools to facilitate ‘what-if’ scenario planningAnnual statistical calendar
‘Business rules’ (what, how, when, who) for each main activity/service
Online tool to automate capture from ILMS
Staff training
Outputs
Status
Audit existing system Completed
Core data set Started
Best practice Informed by visits
Tools Informed by visits
Annual stats calendar
Started
Automated data capture from ILMS
Membership ‘in testing’
Business rules Started
Staff training Not yet started
2 monthly reports
c.35 ‘data streams’ (see diagram)
Horizon ad hoc reports used for ILMS
Multiple Excel workbooks
Working versions on H drive
‘Feed-in’ sheet (Excel worksheet) for each branch on T drive
c.85 staff input data
Coordinated by one p/t member of staff
Existing system
New system data architecture
Data sources
•ILMS•Branches•Activities and services (from business ‘owners’)
Statistics reports +
tools
Normalised data tables
Data repositoryOptimised for data input (contextural help, ‘form-like’ layout, no scrolling, tabs OK, consistent design + colour-coding, extensive data validation, locked and protected cells)
Future analysis / data mining
Optimised for data management (complies with metadata standard, separate tables for each discrete semantic concept, checksums, follows ANDS guidelines)
Optimised for data understanding (patterns, trends, co-relationships, and exceptions) eg Stephen Few’s work
Standards driven (eg ISO, data, Excel)
based on ‘business rules (4ws)
automated (wherever possible)
routinised and contemporaneous
contexturalised (context + change)
visualised
about data and behavioural change
adding value
auditable to documented processes
Key findings - library statisticsneed to be:
• Australian National Data Service (ANDS) http://www.ands.org.au/
• Perceptual Edge (Stephen Few) http://www.perceptualedge.com/
• IFLA 2008, IFLA library statistics manifesto, IFLA, Paris. http://tinyurl.com/3sv32hy
References 1
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2006, ISO 2789:2006 Information and documentation - International library statistics. http://tinyurl.com/45x2kpt
• International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 2008, ISO 11620:2008 Information and documentation - library performance indicators. http://tinyurl.com/3kfuoqv
References 2
Geelong Library Statistics Project2010-2011
Alan Howell: Business Analyst
1 August 2011