Standardisation of library statistics

Standardisation of library statistics

Roswitha PollChair of ISO TC 46 SC 8: Quality – Statistics

and performance evaluation

Roswitha PollChair of ISO TC 46 SC 8: Quality – Statistics

and performance evaluation

Why should we standardise library statistics?

What standards ensure (ISO)

quality

safety

economy

reliability

compatibility

efficiency

interoperability

effectiveness

What library standards want to achieve

to spread the knowledge about existing tested methods and practices

to standardize

with the aim of comparing and aggregating results

terminology and definitionsterminology and definitions

methods of data collectionmethods of data collection

methods of analyzing the datamethods of analyzing the data

ISO 2789 Information and documentation - International library statistics

1st edition 1974

2nd edition 1991

3rd edition 2003

4th edition 2006 Counts• collection size• number and type of users• use of services• staff• space• equipment• training

ISO 2789 Trends of the last editions

from collection-oriented to user-oriented data

Reference servicesLibrary visitsIn-house useUser trainingEvents organized by the librarySeats, workstationsUse of electronic services

introduction of statistics for electronic services and collections

sampling allowed for data collection

other new issues: - cataloguing - income and expenditure (differentiated)- staff (differentiated)

Global statistics

IFLA Section Statistics and evaluationISO TC 46 SC 8: Quality – Statistics and performance evaluationUNESCO Institute for Statistics

Project goals

• To show the present role of libraries in culture and society

• Data should be easily available, also in developing countries

• The statistics should allow international comparison

• But: All that should be done with a limited list of data

Global statistics for public and higher education libraries

Data for the physical library (the building)1. Number of libraries2. Number of seats3. Weekly opening hours (4 groups)

Data for electronic services1. Internet access for users2. Online catalogue3. Library website

Important for public libraries

Library as placefor learning and

working

Global statistics for public and higher education libraries

Data for the collection

1. Number of volumes

2. Number of electronic collections by type- Electronic serials (subscriptions)- eBooks (titles)- Databases (purchased or licensed)

volumes as the one measure

for the traditinal collection

Global statistics for public and higher education libraries

Data for Library activities and events

1. Number of events

2. Annual attendances at user training sessions

Showing the cultural role of

the library

Stands for the teaching library

Global statistics for public and higher education libraries

Data for Library use and users

1 Number of registered users

2 Loans and usage- Number of loans - Number of downloads from the e-collection- Number of visits (physical visits)

Counts of registered users more frequent than of active users

Two measures for traditional use, one for electronic use

Global statistics for public and higher education libraries

Data for resources

1. Library staff- Number of employees (headcount, not FTE)- of these female

2. Expenditure- Total operating expenditure- of which staff costs- of which on literature and information- of which other costs

FTE difficult to calculate

Differentiation allows relations

between cost types

Global statistics

population- of these children, elderly persons, women

literacy and education, access to Internet

members of institutions of higher education

Background data

UNESCO

Performance indicators are possible with the help of these data, e. g.• Average number of libraries per 1,000 inhabitants• Average number of volumes in public libraries per 1,000 literate inhabitants

Global statistics/ISO 2789:Why did we not take the standard as it is?

- ISO 2789 has 105 definitions (and much more counting procedures), of which 31 concern electronic services

As simple as possible

Hopefully, 22 data can give a reliable picture of libraries in a country

Details for all specific services

- The global statistics questionnaire asks for only 22 data, of which 7 concern electronic services

Smallis beautiful

Smallis beautiful