Real World Data: Using Usage to Shape Libraries

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Real World Data Using Usage to Shape Libraries

• Ginny Steel
• University of California, Santa Cruz
• NISO Usage Data Forum
• November 1-2, 2007
• Dallas, TX

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Wherever there is number, there is beauty.

• --Proclus, 410-485 A.D.

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A tale of two libraries

• Both part of public research universities
• Both in building/growth mode
• Both in need of more resources while facing
  reductions in state support
• Both facing increased scrutiny on use of
  available resources

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And the libraries struggle

• To cope with the impact of prolonged, severe
  inflation in the cost of materials
• To support new academic programs
• To incorporate new and expanded technological
  capabilities that support teaching, learning, and
  research

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Management challenges

• Understand and ensure best use of resources
• Make hard decisions between multiple high
  priority needs
• Help all constituencies understand and accept
  established priorities
• Make the librarys case to university
  administration

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Decision support data

• Counting inputs and outputs
• Calculating value
• Developing and refining strategies
• Setting priorities
• Explaining decisions

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Uses for data

• Journals cancellations
• Justification for new subscriptions
• Storage and weeding
• Budget allocations
• Services
• Space
• Staffing

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Types of data collected

• Circulation checkouts, renewals, holds and
  recalls, in-house use
• Interlibrary borrowing and lending
• Gatecounts and hourly headcounts
• Numbers of transactions at service desks
• Expenditures

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WSU journal use database

• Print and electronic journals
• Circulation and in-house use
• Database includes title, publisher, current
  subscription cost, use of print and/or
  e-versions, discipline(s)
• Dedicated staff time to create and maintain
  database

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External relations

• Number theorists are like lotus-eaters having
  once tasted of this food they can never give it
  up.
• --Leopold Kronecker

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Key constituencies

• Faculty
• Administrators
• Students
• Donors and potential donors
• Funding agencies
• Library consortia

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Other important constituencies

• Committee on the library
• Academic Senate
• Budget and planning office
• Institutional research office

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Communication strategies

• Be prepared with numbers
• Maintain time series
• Emphasize overall usage, not just individuals or
  single departments
• Use cost per use data, not just use data alone
• Share data as openly as possible whenever
  possible, wherever its appropriate

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One library managers dream of usage data heaven

• Accepted standardized methodology for tracking
  titles, publishers, subscription costs, packages,
  academic discipline(s) and usage by location
• Customizable fields to track other facets such as
  open-access
• Web-based with ability to control read-write and
  read-only access
• Can incorporate data generated by
  vendors/publishers and local institutions

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The dream, continued

• Can incorporate a variety of data including ILL
  requests and new subscription requests
• Easily updated, maintained, and manipulated
• Able to be used to generate reports
• Data can be compared with other institutions

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In conclusion, remember that

• The numbers are a catalyst that can help turn
  raving madmen into polite humans.
• -- Philip J. Davis
• Questions???