Framing New MeasurementsStephen Abram

Executive DirectorFederation of Ontario Public Libraries

The Triggers

0 Whisper conversations0 Toronto Public Library Martin Prosperity Institute report

(Dec. 2013)0 LJ rankings0 Circulation drop, DVD issue, …0 Royal Society testimony0 Grants0 CLA Stats Task Force0 Diffused efforts0 Counting Opinions – client work, PLDS, etc. Collaboration

The Issues

0 Innumeracy0Maturity of Analytical Skills0Value versus Activity0Fetishization of Circulation0Hybrid use and Complex value proposition

The Opportunity

0Comprehensive Ontario Public Library data collection0Open government and open data0PDF versus database versus .csv files0Usefulness – overwhelming and irrelevant0Dr. Robert Molyneux, MLS, PhD

Core Statistics (CLA Draft)

1. Service points and visits2. Reference questions3. Circulation (of particular item types)4. Population served5. E-resource holdings6. Children’s membership and services7. Staffing8. Internet/PAC/WiFi9. Programming10. Total operating expenditures

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Core Measurements (FOPL Draft)

1. Overall value of a library membership (usage not cardholders)2. Value of an 'open hour' (new metric unique to MPI TPL study that aggregates cost + value)3. Economic impact (vs. ROI) (Households and Population)4. Per Capita 'Usage" comparison across systems, groups (like small, medium. large, urban, suburban, rural, remote, FN, etc.), and jurisdictions (province/state)5. A 'new' usage algorithm to modernize the old circulation stat and combine digital and print usage into a standard, comparable metric6. A metric for technology access tied to the digital/economic divide(s)7. A standard operational effectiveness metric (Value for Tax Dollars)8. Average cost per household (taxes are based on household rather than population and better reflects funding models)9. A metric for Use of Space (meetings, study, rooms) which was new for the MPI study and hadn't been done before 6

The Insights

0Measurements versus Stats0Social media census (audit)0Rankings on data0Rankings on measures0Longitudinal0e.g. member growth versus population growth0Effectiveness, efficiency0Role of visual and infographics

The Action

0Management tool0Communication tool0Advocacy and influence tools0Elections0Training tools

The Plans

0Full report0Wednesday blog

0 Primer0 Indices primer0 Summaries of raw data0 Ranks based on measures0 Cohorts based on measures

0FOPL Index of Community Engagement0Regional Cohort Analysis (e.g. Waterloo, Niagara)0Vibrancy Reports

Why Measurements?

With nicely crafted visuals libraries could do the following:1.  Communicate effectively with their trustees to get their advice on strategy as well as support.2.  Communicate budget 'asks' effectively that place the library in the community value delivery context.3.  Position budget growth (or at least lessen cuts) for community goal alignment and strategic impact.4.  Explain why technology and community room spaces are as valuable (maybe more) than books.5.  Position hybrid collection use properly in ‘circulation’.6.  Justify restoration or extension of library hours.7.  Show that your library either performs as well as or better than others or justify investments to perform to provincial, national or sectoral norms.

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I have a dream . . .

0 Standard our sector on impact metrics that lend themselves to the communication, influence, and financial challenges faced by public libraries to communicate their value in the 21st Century context.

0 Build a set of standardized core statistics that build up to these measurements so we could lead most libraries to start working with a new program to communicate value (and build on their strengths in communicating pure 'usage').

0 Ultimately create a tool such as a specially designed spreadsheet or dynamic website where you input the numbers based on the standards and advice from some group (us?!) that spits out decent data, information and visuals easily on the other side.

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Thank youFOPL.ca

sabram@fopl.ca