Library value in the developing world Nell McCreadie

Los Angeles | London | New DelhiSingapore | Washington DC

Library Value in the Developing World

Nell McCreadie, SAGEIFLA WLIC, Singapore, August 2013


Scholarship is changing: we are on the journey together


Libraries are changing: we are working together for the future

Washington Post, 7 August 2013: ‘The digital age is forcing libraries to change. Here’s what that looks like.’

‘Libraries are really transforming themselves into technology hubs’ Kathryn Zickuhr, Pew Research Centre


Working together: evolving value for academic libraries

1. Value measurement and perception2. Working together with faculty3. Raising awareness about library products and services

http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/


Library Value in the Developing World

http://www.inasp.info/en/

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/


Participant universities


Librarian perception of value● 67% of librarians perceive their value for both faculty and university

management is measured via the resource collection

‘Through the value the library contributes to teaching and

learning, we fulfil the mission of the university and the whole

business of our university’

‘The library’s value is connected with the library’s popularity in the eyes of faculty and students’


Faculty perception of value● 75% of faculty perceive value through resource collection accessibility● 20% of faculty do not use of are not aware of the electronic collection● 96% of faculty use the library building● 39% visit the library website at least once a week

‘The thing I would change about my library would be the seating

arrangement and space’‘The best thing about my library is that I am able to access e-journals

anywhere’


Evaluating and measuring value● 67% of librarians measure the library’s value through resource

collection usage statistics● 40% of librarians are starting to use evaluation methods beyond

collection usage stats (testimonials, questionnaires, monitoring traffic)

‘(Our) evidence of value is measured by visit statistics to the library, visit

statistics to the intranet, and e-Resource usage statistics’


Evidence and perception of services● The majority of librarians do not offer a cohesive set of services in

beyond the traditional roles of collection development● 35% of faculty said they were not aware of all the services offered by

the library

‘I do not think I appreciate all the services offered by the

library I tend to use mainly the e-resources.’


Communication and marketing

‘faculty don’t take it upon themselves to communicate what they want from the library. We try to engage them, but they are not

forthcoming’

‘The link connecting flow of information between me and

the library is lacking. The library doesn’t even know I have an

email address’

?


So what now?


Conclusions

● E-mail: [email protected]● Linkedin: http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nell-mccreadie/2b/806/933

mailto:[email protected]

http://www.linkedin.com/pub/nell-mccreadie/2b/806/933

Library value in the developing world Nell McCreadie

Education

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