Limits of the “Global Statistics” model and some examples of how results are used Presented by Cynthia Lisée B.sc., B.A., M.S.I. 19 th of August 2008

2 Plan presentation Review of UNESCO’s surveys on libraries and relating standards Motivation in collecting statistics and examples of indicators Some results  Literacy, digital information, loans Modification to the “Global Statistics” model and its limits

3 Short Review of UNESCO’s surveys on libraries st surveys Working group ISO, IFLA, UNESCO Impact on Unesco questionnaires Recommendation adopted on International Standardization of Libraries Statistics Last survey for public libraries Last survey for academic libraries 19 surveys

4 Stating the facts Problem with the existence of date and their comparability Poor response rate International… not really! Reports Reports

5 21 st Century Response Unsuitability of the 1970 Recommendation Persistent need for robust data Modify the Recommendation? New working group ISO, IFLA, UIS NO Global Statistics Pretest Questionnaire South America

6 Standards: central to the solution 1970 Recommendation ISO2789 ISO11620 Last international surveys on libraries More tools that favors convergence of approaches: Experts from various countries Various documentary services GLOBALSTATISTICS

7 Why drawing up indicators for libraries? External Motivations PoliticalEconomicSocial PressureAccountabilityImputability towards users Internal Motivations MarkersRelationDiagnosticEquilibriumStrategy Reference points for judging an amelioration Tool for promotion Documenting problems Quality management Support decision making

8 Examples of indicators developed (1) Global StatisticsEX. Core Indicators Number of librariesAverage number of public libraries per 1000 inhabitants Number of workplacesAverage number of workplaces in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants Number of opening hours % of public libraries that have weekly opening over 40

9 Examples of indicators developed (2) Global StatisticsEX. Core Indicators Internet access% of public libraries offering an Internet access for users Number of volumesAverage number of volumes in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants Number of registered users Number of registered users in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants

10 Examples of indicators developed (3) Global StatisticsEX. Core Indicators Number of loansAverage number of loans in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants Number of visitsAverage number of visits in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants Number of employeesRatio of female to male employees in public Literature and information expenditure % of literature and information expenditure in public libraries

11 Construction criteria for “Global Statistics” indicators Informative Validity Reliabiblity Achievable Comparability Consolidated Relevance

12 Indicators for literacy? Global Statistics Impact of libraries towards literacy Use of literate adult population data Does this really measure impact?

13 Literacy challenge: requirements (EFA Global monitoring report strategy) Setting up rich literate environments Quality of education at school Learning programs adapted to youth and adults (not only at school) Burnett, N. & al. (2005). Résumé : Rapport mondial de suivi sur l’EPT 2006 : l’alphabétisation, un enjeu vital. Paris : UNESCO.

14 Sitting up rich literate environments Notice: not UNESCO official data

15 Sitting up rich literate environments Notice: not UNESCO official data

16 Setting up rich literate environments Notice: not UNESCO official data

17 Quality of education at school What is the collaboration between libraries and schools? GLOBAL STATISTICS

18 Learning programs adapted Nature of activities? Type of customers? Notice: not UNESCO official data

19 Common indicators related to literacy Rotation rate of material related to literacy % of demands related to literacy Number of tutoring hours per student % of students fulfilling a given level of the program GLOBAL STATISTICS

20 Digital information: electronic collection Electronic collection  11/24 countries have data of negligible value  12/24 reported missing data  1/24 has an electronic collection sufficiently developed to produce an average value per library (but still in the order of the unit)

21 Digital collection: Internet access Internet Access DAI70-100%30-69%0-29% Not available MSR - ANT*VGB High access Upper access ATG - BHS - CHL* - KNA - TTO ARG* - CRI - DMA - JAM - MEX* URY* - BRALCA Medium access VENCOL - SLV - GUY - SUR Low accessHND* *partial dataDAI = Digital Access Index Notice: not UNESCO official data

22 Results about loans JAM + Notice: not UNESCO official data

23 Coming Modifications to “Global Statistics” (1) Q1.3 Openings hours: other partitions Q.1.4 Clarified definitions: online catalog, registered user Q.1.4: “Access to commercial e- resources”[…] both removed Q.4.1 Type of registered users will be asked

24 Q.5.1 No more “full” and “part” time Q.5.2 FTE removed Q.6.1 Adding: “other operation expenditure”  Data forming a total will be explicitly identified Coming Modifications to “Global Statistics” (2)

25 Limits of the “Global Statistics” model (1) Data reliability: simulation with occidental statistical reports  Opening hours, events, unit content download  Existence vs worth publishing FTE, not FTE that’s the question More work on definitions  event vs training session  Visits  Financial data

26 Limits of the “Global Statistics” model (2) Choice of 22 “ISO2789 data” implies:  No “Language of document” = No Cultural diversity  No type of events (literary, cultural or educational)  No type of users (child, adult) Lack of ground knowledge

27 Limits of the “Global Statistics” (3) Not enough linked to strategies of important international organizations

28 Conclusion Respondent showed a capacity to provide data (public libraries) Quality of data need to be improved Following surveys will allow respondent to fit the demand with time Challenge = to acquire a common statistical culture  Shared standards are part of the solution

29 Akhnowledment UIS team: Simon Ellis, Claude Akpabie, Georges Boade, Lydia Deloumeaux, Carl de Montigny Pierrette Bergeron, professor at EBSI Michael Heaney and Roswitha Poll Pierre Meunier