Re-envisioning and Fine-tuning a Library System Zsuzsa Koltay Director of Assessment and Communication
Why re-envision? System of 20 unit libraries at the outset Budget issues Shifting user behavior University administration’s request Is there a better way?
The evidence path Benchmarking Library impact Transaction data Circulation patterns Needs assessment And a surprise! New models emerging from review
Benchmarking
Library impact
Transaction data – unit profiles
Circulation patterns Analysis of Voyager circulation snapshots Books currently out Who borrows from X library Where do users from Y college or department borrow from
Two very different profiles Veterinary Library 56% of books charged to Vet faculty are from Vet Library 66% of books charged to Vet students are from Vet Library 76% of charged Vet Library books were charged out by Vet affiliated users Management Library 23% of books charged to Mgmt faculty are from the Mgmt Library 45% of books charged to Mgmt students are from the Mgmt Library 23% of charged Mgmt Library books were charged out by Mgmt affiliated users
Needs assessment - students Needs: –Staff that understands their needs –Instruction –Study space and computing –Sense of community –Print reserves –Better promotion Not important: –Physical collection on site Local libraries convenient, good for recruiting
Needs assessment - faculty Resources, resources, resources Closeness of library staff
A surprise
New model ‘Virtual library’ –No on-site physical collection –No/minimal service point –Subject librarians remain on premises –Study space maintained by college (24/7) –Computing maintained by college –Collection budget remain in place (possible boost) –Less administrative overhead
So what is a library, anyway? “A branch library is defined as an auxiliary library service outlet with quarters separate from the central library of an institution, which has a basic collection of books and other materials, a regular staffing level, and an established schedule. ARL, NCES 2010
Zsuzsa Koltay