Assessing the impact of reading for blind and partially sighted adults

RNIB (Royal National Institute of Blind People) has amassed a body of qualitative evidence on the value and impact of reading for blind and partially sighted people, but this was lacking in quantitative support, and could not be compared with the developing evidence base relating to the impact of reading on the wider population. RNIB commissioned LISU and The Reading Agency to undertake independent research to address these issues, the key findings of which are outlined in this report

Assessing the impact of libraries – the role of ISO 16439

Purpose Library impact and how to evaluate it has been debated for a number of years. While the activity – the busy-ness – of the library is now routinely measured and described, the difference the library makes is less tangible and harder to measure. Libraries in all sectors and worldwide are grappling with this issue. Design/methodology/approach The first international standard concerning library impact, ISO 16439 Information and documentation — Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries, was published in 2014 after several years in development. Findings The standard describes a range of methods for assessing library impact which have been used across the world in a variety of libraries in all sectors. Originality/value This paper summarises the key methods described in the standard, and gives references for further reading

Trends in journal prices: an analysis of selected journals, 2000-2006

This paper presents summary results from an analysis of the institutional subscription prices for journals in biomedical and social sciences, for a selection of eleven publishers. Overall price, price per page and price per point of impact factor have been examined between 2000 and 2006. Considerable variation was found between publishers both in their overall levels of price and in the rates of increase observed over the period. There is some evidence that not-for- profit publishers may, on average, offer better value for money in terms of price per page and price per point of impact factor, but this is far from conclusive

Improving perceptions of value to teaching and research staff: the next challenge for academic libraries

This article investigates the value, and perceptions of value, of academic libraries to teaching and research staff by examining working relationships between libraries and academic departments in universities. Eight case studies were undertaken in the US, the UK and Scandinavia. Primary findings were analysed and triangulated with a series of short surveys to ascertain whether they resonated with other librarians’ experiences. The article offers examples of good practice in the area of partnership building for academic libraries to improve their value to, or perceptions of value by, teaching and research staff, as well as raise their profile and better market their services to this category of users. Those examples may be of interest to fellow library practitioners and researchers interested in exploring further library-faculty interaction and collaboration

Information Science student IT experience and attitude toward computers: results of a five-year longitudinal study

Information Science student IT experience and attitude toward computers: results of a five-year longitudinal stud

Trends in UK public library materials expenditure 1998-2008

Compilations of UK public library book fund estimates have been published since 1976, with the aim of providing a simple and immediate statement of library authorities’ expenditure intentions on books and related materials. For the purposes of this study, trends per head of resident population in the number of service points, total library expenditure and materials expenditure for the UK will be examined over the last ten years, alongside corresponding data for other countries such as Australia and the USA. The trends analysis includes the minimum, maximum, upper and lower quartiles along with the mean and median for each year over the period 1997-98 to 2007-08. In particular this study will bring to light how the general decline in materials expenditure in the UK in recent years has not been experienced worldwide

Managing access to the Internet in public libraries in the UK – the findings of the MAIPLE project

Paper presented at the Annual International Conference on Library and Information Science, 4-7 August 2014, Athens, Greece. One of the key purposes of the public library is to provide access to information. In the UK, information is provided in printed formats and for the last decade via public access Internet workstations installed as part of the People’s Network initiative. Recent figures reveal that UK public libraries provide approximately 43,000 computer terminals offering users around 83,000,000 hours across more than 4,300 service points. In addition, increasing numbers of public libraries allow users to connect devices such as tablets or smart phones to the Internet via a wireless network access point (Wi-Fi). How do public library staff manage this? What about users viewing harmful or illegal content? What are the implications for a profession committed to freedom of access to information and opposition to censorship? MAIPLE, a two-year project funded by the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) has been investigating this issue, as little was known about how UK public libraries manage Internet content control including illegal material. MAIPLE has drawn on an extensive review of the literature, an online survey which all UK public library services (PLS) were invited to complete (39 per cent response rate) and case studies with five services (two in England, one in Scotland, one in Wales and one in Northern Ireland) to examine the ways these issues are managed and their implications for staff. This paper will explore the prevalence of tools such as filtering software, Acceptable Use Policies (AUPs), user authentication, booking software and visual monitoring by staff and consider their efficacy and desirability in the provision of public Internet access. It will consider the professional dilemmas inherent with managing content and access. Finally, it will highlight some of the more important themes emerging from the findings and their implications for practitioners and policy makers

The impact of the Balanced Scorecard in libraries: from performance measurement to strategic management

A literature review of the development of the Balanced Scorecard in libraries was used to develop a series of hypotheses on the main characteristics of its implementation, use and outcomes. These were tested via an electronic questionnaire sent to a sample of 49 academic, public and national libraries worldwide known to be using the Balanced Scorecard, with 15 respondents. The results show that the key driver for most was to improve library management; considerable support was needed in developing the framework; selecting the Key Performance Indicators was the most challenging implementation issue; and most felt they had benefited from using the Balanced Scorecard

Regulating internet access in UK public libraries: legal compliance and ethical dilemmas

Purpose – This paper aims to consider selected results from the Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC) funded “Managing Access to the internet in Public Libraries” (MAIPLE) project, from 2012-2014. MAIPLE has explored the ways in which public library services manage use of the internet connections that they provide for the public. This included the how public library services balance their legal obligations and the needs of their communities in a public space and the ethical dilemmas that arise. Design/methodology/approach - The researchers used a mixed-method approach involving a review of the literature, legal analysis, a questionnaire survey and case studies in five public library authorities. Findings - UK public library services use a range of methods to regulate internet access. The research also confirms previous findings that filtering software is an ubiquitous tool for controlling access to and protecting library users from “inappropriate”, illegal and harmful internet content. There is a general, if sometimes reluctant, acceptance of filtering software as a practical tool by library staff, which seems to contrast with professional codes of ethics and attitudes in other countries. The research indicates that public library internet access will be a valued service for some time to come, but that some aspects of how public library services regulate internet access is currently managed can have socially undesirable consequences, including blocking legitimate sites and preventing users from accessing government services. Education could play a greater part in helping the general population to exercise judgement in selection of materials to view and use. This does not preclude implementing stricter controls to protect children, whilst allowing public libraries to continue providing a social good to those who are unable to otherwise participate in the digital age. Research limitations/implications – The response to the survey was 39 per cent meaning that findings may not apply across the whole of the UK. The findings of this study are compared with and supplemented by other quantitative sources, but a strength of this study is the depth of understanding afforded by the use of case studies. Originality/value - This paper provides both a quantitative and qualitative analysis of how internet access is managed in UK public libraries, including how library services fulfil their legal obligations and the ethical implications of how they balance their role in facilitating access to information with their perceived role as a safe and trusted environment for all members of their communities. The findings add to the international discussion on this issue and stimulate debate and policy making in the UK