University investments in the library. Phase II : an international study
Date
2010
Authors
Eger, Arthur
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University
Abstract
Paper presented at the Stellenbosch University Library 2010 Symposium / IFLA Presidential Meeting. Knowing is not enough: Engaging in the knowledge economy, 18 to 19 February 2010. Figures from the Association of Research Libraries, show that while the amount of money
libraries spend on resources has gone up over time, library users perceive a decrease in the
value of the library overall as an information gateway. This perception, along with a
combination of other factors, makes establishing insights in the Return Of Investment (ROI)
for libraries more important than ever. To demonstrate that library collections contribute to
the income generating activities of their parent institution, the University of Illinois at
Urbana-Campaign (UIUC) pilot study was established. When the data were put into the
model, a 4.38-to-1 return ROI-ratio was calculated. In its second phase, this study was
expanded to 8 institutions in 8 countries, including the University of Pretoria, to determine
in what ways universities around the world are similar as well as different, and whether or
not the original model could be replicated. This work was completed in the autumn of
2009. Methods used were interviews with key university leaders, collection of library
budget figures and grants income, and a faculty survey. As expected, differences were
uncovered, particularly in the areas of university mission, funding sources, mandates and
library alignment with the institutional mission. Highest ROI-values come from institutions
with a purely research mission or with a concentration in science and technology. Further
results show that library collections help faculty in areas of productivity, efficiency, interdisciplinary
explorations, and international collaborations; university leaders use the library
to help recruit and retain faculty and students and that the library plays a role in promoting
the university’s international reputation; and last-but-not-least, a majority of faculty view
the library and its resources as valuable to research and integral to the grants process.
Description
45 slides originally created in MSPowerPoint and migrated to pdf using Adobe Acrobat 8 Standard.
Keywords
Library value, Library validation methodologies, University of Pretoria
Citation
Eger, A 2010, 'University investments in the library. Phase II : an international study', Stellenbosch : Stellenbosch University.