The Value of Libraries
The value of our libraries has long been a fact for those of us who work within them and use them regularly, both remotely and on-site. But how we evaluate and quantify this value has taken on a greater importance in recent months. In the face of fee rises, policy makers and students are increasingly calling on universities to demonstrate the bang they offer for students’ buck. As an integral and expanding provider of student services, libraries will be at the forefront of demonstrating university value. The good news is that libraries are well placed to do so.
Last week, the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL) held its Annual Conference at the Hilton Hotel in Cardiff, the theme throughout was the value of libraries. The breadth of work on this subject undertaken by SCONUL, its members and associated groups such as the Joint Information Services Committee is both substantial and compelling.
Graham Stone, Electronic Resources Manager at Huddersfield University, showed preliminary findings of a study into library use and pupil attainment. Results show that students who used the library most frequently got the best grades. Meanwhile, Carol Tenopir of the University of Tennessee provided details of an on-going study into the value of libraries to academics. Again, the results are striking, with academics accessing nearly double the number of library articles as they were in 1977. From 1993, the average number has increased from 188 to 295 per month.
In the past, libraries have often hidden their light beneath a bushel. Library managers have known about the positive impact their services have on student and academic success for years. With these new reports, they are a step closer to quantifying and demonstrating this value to others.
Libraries make an enormous contribution to the education of our young people and the development of research that drives economic growth and scientific understanding. We should be both proud of these achievements and excited at the prospect of showcasing them. In the coming months, we expect these studies to highlight the returns on investment experienced by universities that value their libraries.
Ann Rossiter
SCONUL Executive Director
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Anonymous (not verified) said on 19 April 2012 at 2:54pm:
This is interesting. We’re talking about the effecicy of libraries. Of course those students who use libraries the most are going to have the best grades. This alone indicates their dedication to their area of study. Now for those who don’t use libraries, this does not mean they’re not studying. it simply means they are using other means and technologies that have grown more popular today. I can speak from experience that accounting students are visiting libraries less and less as a result of ipad’s coming out. These tools are essentially hand held libraries. Most of my students who are preparing for their certified public accounting exam are using their i pads in conjuction with the software that we offer at www.cpaexam.com
Their is no doubt a correlation between good grades and spending time at the library but if students have quiet spaces at home along with the same technologies found at libraries, there is really no reason to have to travel to the library.
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No one can deny the value of libraries. If you are using libraries for general knowledge, doing your thesis etc… you have to make sure your visit regular…
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Anonymous said on 20 June 2011 at 12:10pm:
The work we conducted for RIN and RLUK on the value of libraries for research and researchers provides some evidence that may be of interest - the report was published earlier this year:
http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/value-libraries-research-and-researchers
Matt Shreeve, Curtis+Cartwright Consulting
Anonymous said on 18 June 2011 at 6:09am:
We should be undertaking longitudinal studies in order to clarify the effects that the presence and use of a library has on individuals and communities. Sheer numbers (of visitors, of loans, of documents available) are just not persuasive enough.
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