Online Statistics for Australian, New Zealand & Asian Academic Libraries Cathie Jilovsky
Outline library benchmarking CAUL Statistics CAUL Online Statistics Asian Academic Libraries online statistics pilot project progress report evaluation
Online Statistical Benchmarking online statistical benchmarking service developed by CAVAL gather, store, analyse & provide access to data data about users, operations, personnel, services, collections & user populations for better business & service decisions, improve library visibility, increase user satisfaction
CAUL Statistics the Australian & New Zealand Academic Library (CAUL) Statistics CAUL = Council of Australian University Librarians CONZUL = Council of New Zealand University Librarians
CAUL Statistics Australian University Libraries 14 data elements staff collections expenditure
CAUL Statistics Website commenced in 1997 all data back to 1983 available as Excel spreadsheets New Zealand University library data since 1974 data definitions published reports links to other statistical websites
CAUL Online Statistics
CAUL Statistics Focus Group accurate, relevant & authoritative data consistency of data over time data available widely – accessible, public & widely promoted data which permits analysis of trends collection of both traditional & new information training/feedback opportunities for relevant university library staff statistics - cheap, useful & valid
CAUL Statistics: Deemed List
Statistical Data Issues data relationships when does evolution become change? e.g. “monographs” = “non-serials” e.g. “opening hours” not = “opening hours during semester” data quality accuracy, timeliness, completeness, consistency
Asian Online Statistics sponsored by the iGroup (Asia) pilot project objectives development & provision of an online statistical website implementation of sophisticated functionality improvements to the collection processes for the individual libraries provision of a sustainable online statistical service for the iGroup & Asian member libraries
Participating Libraries Hong Kong – 8 libraries Malaysia – 4 libraries Singapore – 2 libraries Thailand – 8 libraries
Pilot timeline 2006 Introductory workshops Initial site development Pilot data entry CAVAL Help Desk 2007 Further workshops Phase 1 data entry Malaysia & Thailand begin 2008 Hong Kong & Singapore join Phase 2 commences Evaluation
Asian Online Statistics site
Pilot benefits (1) local benefits tracking each library over time developing staff expertise institutional benefits showing the contributions of the library national benefits comparing with other institutions gaining national overview of library services
Pilot benefits (2) regional benefits comparing with similar libraries in other countries learning from the differences global benefits greater understanding of the role of libraries an opportunity to be involved & contribute to this regional development
Functionality compare institutional data calculate ratios display summary statistics produce graphs download data input data module
Data elements Library Organisation Library Staff Library Services Information Resources Library Expenditure Institutional Population
Asian Statistics pilot - challenges cultural & language differences physically located across a wide geographic area practical issues different currencies different financial & academic years varying technical backgrounds varying local infrastructure support little tradition of sharing data lack of familiarity with practicalities
Evaluation Process usability of the site clear & consistent definitions individual feedback from participants benchmarking possibilities resolving issues – data differences can’t compare apples with oranges
What next? peer Libraries Asian Libraries CAUL Libraries ARL Libraries global Libraries compare like with like …
Questions?
CAVAL Linking Leading Libraries Cathie Jilovsky Web: Online Statistics