Measuring libraries’ impact on users
Aaron Schmidt wrote a fabulous post on library use and how we measure success: “Libraries Should Become Better with Use.” If you’ve ever wondered why we focus on the statistics we do (e.g. circulation), and think that we should be looking at more diverse measurements of customer experiences instead of mass consumption of goods, take a look at Aaron’s post.
State reports in California have dumped much of the digital activity categories that they used to have, and never replaced them with anything. While circulation is important, what about eBook use, wifi use, public computer use, website use, and mobile site use? None of this factors into most reports, and it’s a shame.
Our libraries have changed, and the way we value ourselves to outside agencies has not. We still drive so much effort toward increasing circulation — in many respects solely so our reports will impress! I’ve seen a number of other libraries go rogue with their reports, measuring things that matter to them…statistics that mean a lot to the library users, not the state library report. I would love that to happen in more places.
December 3rd, 2009 at 12:04 pm
I commented on Aaron’s post similar to what I will post here. Thank you for bringing attention to this issue. I think the trend for most libraries are having a strategic plan or having some way to measure success locally as opposed to the statistical national standard that HAPLR and Library Journal are now pushing. If you read the discussion on PUBLIB you will understand that most management does not like these statistical markers nor to measure them or star them in this way.
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:22 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by Karen Muller. Karen Muller said: Measuring libraries’ impact on users | Librarian in Black Blog – Sarah Houghton-Jan http://ow.ly/Ih5e [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 3:24 pm
[...] This post was mentioned on Twitter by ALA Library and Karen Muller, Sarah. Sarah said: RT @ALALibrary: Measuring libraries’ impact on users | Librarian in Black Blog – Sarah Houghton-Jan http://ow.ly/Ih4O [...]
December 3rd, 2009 at 9:00 pm
In NSW (Australia) we are able to calculate the economic benefit a public library service provides to its community and the economic activity it generates in the community. It’s a useful way to demonstrate back to funding bodies the ‘return on investment’. See the publication at http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/publications/docs/enriching_communities.pdf and the calculations spreadsheets at http://www.sl.nsw.gov.au/services/public_libraries/docs/calculate_economic_benefit.xls
December 7th, 2009 at 2:12 am
[...] “Les bibliothèques doivent devenir meilleures à l’usage” (découvert via Librarian in black). Une preuve qu’un objet est bien fabriqué est qu’il se bonifie après usage. Songez [...]