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Why library statistics? The statistician’s view

Simon Ellis

Head of Science Culture and Communications Statistics

www.uis.unesco.org

International demand for information literacy statistics

Millennium Development Goals

World Summit on the Information Society

• Access to public information

• Indicator framework; Partnership for Measurement of ICTs for Development – UNESCO, ITU, UNCTAD, OECD, EU, UN

Education For All

• Indicator framework; UNESCO Global EFA Monitoring Report ‘literate environment’

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Why do libraries need statistics?

What can’t be measured can’t be managed

Decline in library function/usage??

Negotiating a new role

• Digital archives

• Information provision

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Libraries services - someone from whom you can find out anything!

No service!

Training?

Gaming?

???

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The data pyramid/pagoda

national

regional

global

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Libraries as places for statistics

Recognised in every community

‘controlled environment’

Professional staff

Sampling base; census records, electoral registers, telephone books

Demand; people come to libraries with questions about their community SO a good place to assess demand for information

IT resources for examining results

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IFLA/ISO/UIS Library survey 2007 – the response

26/41 countries responded after three reminders from UNESCO & IFLA

Only basic data on stock/ no. of institutions available

Few responses on events, training, e-info etc

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Information literacy indicators 2 - access

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Bah

amas

Guy

ana

Trin

idad

and

Tob

ago

Mex

ico

Ven

ezue

la

Jam

aica

Col

ombi

a

Cos

ta R

ica

Per

u

El S

alva

dor

Sai

nt L

ucia

Ant

igua

and

Bar

buda

Sur

inam

e

0.0

20.0

40.0

60.0

80.0

100.0

120.0

Number of volumes per 1000 inhabitants

Number of volumes per 1000 literate inhabitants

Percentage of public libraries offering an internet access for users

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Library statistics in transitional & developing countries

Lower levels of literacy

• Greater need for surveys of ‘readers’

• locational studies; use reader surveys to place libraries

– where they will be used (in walking distance)

– Where they can help fight illiteracy and poverty

Fewer resources

• What is the minimum set of statistics needed to run a local library?

• Lack of IT

– Reliance on manual counts/catalogues etc

– National data collected by hand & less networking

• More emphasis on effective use of national network; getting the right books to the right places

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Libraries as place – the minimum

The place – a tree

A certain time of day

Easy walking access

Use of mobile technology

Stock of books

Information services

Identifiable location

A ‘known’ community

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What libraries don’t measure?

Libraries should measure demand

• Surveys of readers, community surveys

• Use census data

• Barriers to use

• Most convenient opening times

• Interest in events and exhibitions

Access issues

• Public transport

Libraries as data centres always with something new to say about the community

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We need discussion here on

What are the best statistical indicators for libraries?

Are different indicators required by developing and developed countries?

How can we encourage libraries to collect more statistics?

• Choose the indicators that are most relevant….national….regional …international. Which ones are they?

• Build ownership and capacity for data collection, in a climate of lack of resources. How?

Only when there is good national data will there be good international data

Only when there is good international data will libraries role in ‘knowledge societies’, Education for All, Information for All…. be recognised