1 LibEcon:International statistical benchmarking of Libraries BERLIN AUGUST 2003

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LibEcon:International statistical benchmarking of Libraries

• BERLIN• AUGUST 2003

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LibEcon

• Funded by DGINFOS [3 years to June 2004]

• Successor to LibEcon2000

• IPF coordinator

• Website - www.libecon.org

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LibEcon• Collects statistical data from a variety of sources

• Checks and standardises

• Publishes on website

• Reports and newsletters• Makes available comparative library statistics which

make possible standardised international comparisons

• Creates a network of compilers of such statistics to support improved practice through standardisation

• Encourages the use of the data by practitioners, policy makers and researchers

• Supports the take up of ISO 2789

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Target Audiences

Producers of statistical data.

● This is a scattered group which benefits from being exposed to European best practice and using the opportunity to benchmark on the best and improve standardisation and raise standards in their own countries.

● Groups interested in advocating library development

● Professionals, managers, policy makers, funders, suppliers and researchers interested in the library area.

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What is available now?

Statistical and benchmarking data covering:• All kinds of libraries

• All EU and CEE countries plus Iceland, Norway, Switzerland

• Expanding worldwide

• Data up to 2001

• Checked and standardised

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Types of libraries Recognised by ISO and covered by LIBECON

• National• Higher Education• Public• Special (Government, Health/Medical, Professional,

Industrial & Commercial, Media, Regional & Other)

• School

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What’s New …

• Three more years’ data• New countries -

• Australia; • Canada;• Korea;• New Zealand;• USA;• Japan;• Mexico; • Turkey;• OPEN TO ALL

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Work in progress: European countries not yet covered

• Albania

• Belarus• Bosnia• Croatia• Cyprus• Georgia

• Macedonia

• Malta• Moldova• Serbia• Ukraine• Russia

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Website Development

• More countries.

• More facilities for user defined ratios and tables.

• YOU CAN DEFINE YOUR OWN QUESTIONS

• Site server search facility

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Website Development 2

• Examples added for each country

• Links made with Pulman website.• FAQ?

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Online Database Results

• Automatically generates “statistical maps”.

• Regional groupings and individual country tabulated datasets.

• Scatter graphs and histograms to highlight trends.

• *.csv download.

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Results from the 2000 Survey• Public Libraries Data

1991 to 2000

• CEE, EFTA & EU• Service Points• Staffing

Service Points - Public Libraries

55

56

57

58

59

60

61

62

63

64

65

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Th

ou

san

ds

Number of Staff Employed in Public Libraries FTE

70

75

80

85

90

95

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Th

ou

sa

nd

s

Trained

Other

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Public Libraries

• Numbers of visits, loan and registered members

Registered Members in Public Libraries

102

104

106

108

110

112

114

116

118

120

1991 1992 1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000

Mill

ion

s

1,600

1,650

1,700

1,750

1,800

1,850

1,900

1,950

2,000

2,050

2,100

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Mill

ion

s

Visits

Loan Transactions

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Data Manipulation Models

• Downloadable analysis programs (2001 data available Sept 2003)

• Focusing on a single sector

• Ability to compare 2 figures graphically against user-defined groups

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

Rank order

EU

EFTA

(blank)

Spain

Back

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Size of library sectors

By total expenditure (% of total) By total staff (% of total)

Sector Previous Estimates

Current Estimate Current Estimate

1981 1995 1996 1998 2000 1996 1998 2000

National 6.0% 5.9% 5.0% 5.4% 4.8% 4.6% 4.2% 4.0%

Tertiary 15.3% 16.9% 18.9% 18.2% 19.9% 15.1% 16.2% 17.0%

Public 47.3% 49.5% 49.0% 46.5% 45.6% 47.6% 46.2% 46.6%

School 17.8% 14.7% 9.4% 9.5% 9.1% 16.4% 16.1% 15.6%

Special & Other

13.5% 13.1% 17.7% 20.3% 20.6% 16.2% 17.2% 16.9%

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Regional trends: spending on public libraries

Expenditure per Population Served

0

5000

10000

15000

20000

25000

30000

35000

40000

45000

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Exp

end

itu

re €

per

1,0

00 p

op

Central & Eastern Europe

Europen Union

European Free TradeAgreement

Europe

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Regional trends: workstations in public libraries

Number of Workstations per 100,000 Population

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

40

1997 1998 1999 2000 2001

Central & Eastern Europe

Europen Union

European Free TradeAgreement

Europe

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Current issues

• How can we create closer links with country coordinators?

• How can we help drive improvements at national level?

• What can LIBECON learn from national developments?

• Sustainability• Development of content• Modernisation [electronic indicators].• Extension to new countries• Adoption of sampling methodologies?

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Current issues: plans, activities of key players?

• Eurostat• UNESCO• IFLA• Council of Europe• ISO

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What do you think?

• David.fuegi@mdrpartners.com

• Martin.Jennings@ipf.co.uk