The browser you are using is not supported by this website. All versions of Internet Explorer are no longer supported, either by us or Microsoft (read more here: https://www.microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/windows/end-of-ie-support).

Please use a modern browser to fully experience our website, such as the newest versions of Edge, Chrome, Firefox or Safari etc.

Research Library Statistics: For Whom and for What Purpose? The Statistics Users' Views and Wishes

På svenska

Author

  • Cecilia Bodelsson
  • Catarina Jacobsson
  • Tore Torngren

Summary, in English

The paper reports a project conducted within the framework of the National Library of Sweden's Expert Group on Library Statistics. The project is financed by the National Library of Sweden, and it aims to capture how library managements make use of the current library statistics (based on the ISO-standard) in the decision-making process. Questions are also asked about the quality and usefulness of the existing statistical data, whether data covers all relevant aspects of library activity, and what additional data is required in order to enhance the validity of collected statistics. The primary method used is semi-structured group interviews (focus groups). Four such interviews were held with the participation of 15 library directors from academic and other research or special libraries from different parts of Sweden. The results show that there is considerable ambivalence among the informants concerning the usefulness of current statistics. On the one hand there is severe criticism of what today is reported on a national level (too much and too little), on the other hand statistical data is used locally to underpin arguments supporting library activities. Stakeholders representing university or institutional management were not available for group interviews. With the support of the interviewed library directors a group of 12 vice-chancellors or other senior managers were identified and approached with a mail survey. Questions were asked about what kind of documentation of library activities they use or prefer, be they quantitative, qualitative or of other kind.

Publishing year

2012

Language

English

Pages

315-322

Publication/Series

New Trends in Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries

Document type

Conference paper

Publisher

World Scientific Publishing

Topic

  • Information Studies

Keywords

  • Sweden library statistics
  • use of statistics
  • group interviews
  • focus
  • groups
  • survey
  • library management
  • academic management
  • decision-making
  • process

Conference name

2nd Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries

Conference date

2010-05-25 - 2010-05-28

Conference place

Chania, Greece

Status

Published

ISBN/ISSN/Other

  • ISBN: 978-981-4350-29-7