IFLA Satellite ConferenceIFLA Satellite ConferenceLibrary Statistics for 21Library Statistics for 21stst Century World, Montreal Century World, Montreal

August 18-19, 2008 - Concordia UniversityAugust 18-19, 2008 - Concordia University

Experience seeking statistical data in Experience seeking statistical data in libraries of Argentinalibraries of Argentina

Silvia TexidorSilvia TexidorRomina De LorenzoRomina De Lorenzo

Dirección General de Estadística y Censos (Buenos AiresDirección General de Estadística y Censos (Buenos Aires))

State of the situation in ArgentinaState of the situation in Argentina Argentina is a federal republic which is geographically very Argentina is a federal republic which is geographically very disparate; it’s formed by 23 provinces and 1 autonomous disparate; it’s formed by 23 provinces and 1 autonomous city. Besides, many municipalities have Statistics offices at city. Besides, many municipalities have Statistics offices at the local level.the local level.

There is no library data at a national level, but there is There is no library data at a national level, but there is fragmented data at the provincial level and further minor fragmented data at the provincial level and further minor data at the town level, but data collection is not systematic data at the town level, but data collection is not systematic

or widespread.or widespread.

Library statistics in ArgentinaLibrary statistics in Argentina

Difficulty in finding comprehensive data, particularly at the Difficulty in finding comprehensive data, particularly at the country level, taking into account, above all, the country level, taking into account, above all, the aforementioned highly decentralized government that exists aforementioned highly decentralized government that exists in Argentina.in Argentina.

This heterogeneous and chaotic situation, coupled with the This heterogeneous and chaotic situation, coupled with the lack of a coordinating agency for library statistics with a lack of a coordinating agency for library statistics with a methodology for collecting and coordinating the system, methodology for collecting and coordinating the system, impedes theimpedes thereliable consistency of the data collected.reliable consistency of the data collected.

Entities producing statistics at the national levelEntities producing statistics at the national level INDEC:INDEC: is the public body, which unifies the guidance and is the public body, which unifies the guidance and exercises the management of all official statistical activities exercises the management of all official statistical activities taking place in the territory of the Republic of Argentina.taking place in the territory of the Republic of Argentina.

CONABIP: CONABIP: is the state agency under the Ministry of Culture is the state agency under the Ministry of Culture of the Presidency of the Nation. Since 1870, it has of the Presidency of the Nation. Since 1870, it has supported and promoted the development of popular supported and promoted the development of popular libraries throughout the Republic of Argentina.libraries throughout the Republic of Argentina.

SPU: SPU: is the body responsible for organizing a system of is the body responsible for organizing a system of permanent monitoring of indicators about the Argentine permanent monitoring of indicators about the Argentine university system.university system.

Library Statistics of the City of Buenos AiresLibrary Statistics of the City of Buenos Aires DGEyC: DGEyC: official body for the production and dissemination official body for the production and dissemination

of statistics on the city.of statistics on the city.Since 1887 library statistics have been published Since 1887 library statistics have been published continuously.continuously.

Due to the vicissitudes of political life in the city and Due to the vicissitudes of political life in the city and country, there are ups and downs in the production and country, there are ups and downs in the production and dissemination of the librarydissemination of the librarystatistical series which, over the years, have had to take statistical series which, over the years, have had to take a greater or lesser number of variables (readers, works a greater or lesser number of variables (readers, works consulted, subject to consultation) into account, consulted, subject to consultation) into account, depending on the time and local authorities.depending on the time and local authorities.

The statistics that were placed in the questionnaire were The statistics that were placed in the questionnaire were taken from the Statistical Yearbook of Buenos Aires 2006 taken from the Statistical Yearbook of Buenos Aires 2006 and through consultation with the libraries of the city. and through consultation with the libraries of the city. The work methodology consisted of:The work methodology consisted of:

- Consultation of Web pages of libraries or the mailing - Consultation of Web pages of libraries or the mailing databases of DGEYC to locate the responsables (name databases of DGEYC to locate the responsables (name and phone).and phone).

- Analysis of the questionnaire of Unesco and adaptation - Analysis of the questionnaire of Unesco and adaptation of the questions to make them more comprehensible.of the questions to make them more comprehensible.

- Telephone interviews with each of the responsables for - Telephone interviews with each of the responsables for responding to the questionnaire adapted.responding to the questionnaire adapted.

- Consultation of the Database Bank and the DGEyC - Consultation of the Database Bank and the DGEyC Series statistics.Series statistics.

- Collection of data processing and analysis to dump in - Collection of data processing and analysis to dump in the questionnaire of Unesco.the questionnaire of Unesco.

Also consulted:Also consulted:

Web pages of the Provincial Directorate of Statistics, and Web pages of the Provincial Directorate of Statistics, and mails were sent to libraries and documentation centres mails were sent to libraries and documentation centres of these institutions.of these institutions.

These consultations were unsuccessful and we could not These consultations were unsuccessful and we could not locate data that would allow complete the questionnaire locate data that would allow complete the questionnaire Unesco. These consultations were unsuccessful and we Unesco. These consultations were unsuccessful and we could not locate data that would allow to complete the could not locate data that would allow to complete the Unesco questionnaire. Unesco questionnaire.

Regarding of the university libraries statistics, the Regarding of the university libraries statistics, the methodology used was similar: in this case the methodology used was similar: in this case the consultations were not successful and the items relating consultations were not successful and the items relating to university libraries were not filled in the questionnaire.to university libraries were not filled in the questionnaire.

Remarks on the questionnaire on library Remarks on the questionnaire on library statistics of Unescostatistics of Unesco

Block on identification of peopleBlock on identification of people

Ministry or government agencyMinistry or government agency

ObservationsObservations: : The National Libraries and national statistical The National Libraries and national statistical

agencies are also from the government.agencies are also from the government.It would be desirable to define other termsIt would be desirable to define other terms..

1.1. Block on Libraries and access to facilitiesBlock on Libraries and access to facilities 11.1 Number of libraries.1 Number of libraries

ObservationsObservations: : It should include data on population served It should include data on population served

(actual and potential users), delineated by (actual and potential users), delineated by gender as it is stipulated for staff.gender as it is stipulated for staff.

Could discriminate between state and private Could discriminate between state and private libraries in the case of University Libraries.libraries in the case of University Libraries.

Incorporate questions about facilities and Incorporate questions about facilities and equipment.equipment.

1.1. Block on Libraries and access to facilitiesBlock on Libraries and access to facilities

1.4. 1.4. Electronic services by typeElectronic services by type

Observations:Observations: Move to another block the questions about Move to another block the questions about

services.services.

It would be desirable to have a block on servicesIt would be desirable to have a block on services

2. Block on 2. Block on CollectionsCollections 2.1. 2.1. Number of printed volumesNumber of printed volumes

Observations:Observations: It would also be desirable to have the number of It would also be desirable to have the number of

titlestitles

2. Block on 2. Block on CollectionsCollections 2.2 2.2 Number of electronic volumesNumber of electronic volumes

Observations:Observations:It would be desirable to have data for both It would be desirable to have data for both formats (electronic and printed); in Argentina, formats (electronic and printed); in Argentina,

almost no popular libraries havealmost no popular libraries havesubscriptions to electronic publications and subscriptions to electronic publications and

databases.databases.

2. Block on 2. Block on CollectionsCollections2.2 Electronic series publications 2.2 Electronic series publications

(subscriptions)(subscriptions) Observations:Observations:

Also request data on titles of current periodical Also request data on titles of current periodical publications.publications.

2.2 2.2 Acquired Databases with licenseAcquired Databases with license Observations:Observations:

Not applicable to Popular LibrariesNot applicable to Popular Libraries

4. 4. Uses and Users BlockUses and Users Block

4.1. 4.1. Total number of registered usersTotal number of registered users

Observations:Observations: It leaves out the patron uses the library, but is It leaves out the patron uses the library, but is

not a member of it.not a member of it. In the layout of the questionnaire, it was not In the layout of the questionnaire, it was not

possible to group users by age.possible to group users by age. Differentiate by gender as is stipulated for the Differentiate by gender as is stipulated for the

staff.staff.

4. 4. Uses and Users BlockUses and Users Block 44.2 .2 Total loans (excluding renewals and Total loans (excluding renewals and

interlibrary loans)interlibrary loans) Observations:Observations:

It should include interlibrary loan as a separate It should include interlibrary loan as a separate item, because it shows the relationships item, because it shows the relationships between institutions and the usage of thebetween institutions and the usage of thedocumentaries in a country with a low budget fordocumentaries in a country with a low budget for

4. 4. Uses and Users BlockUses and Users Block 4.4 4.4 Total number of units of downloadable Total number of units of downloadable

content from e-Collectionscontent from e-Collections Observations:Observations:

It is not clear who downloads the e-Collections- It is not clear who downloads the e-Collections- the librarian, the patron? Or from which the librarian, the patron? Or from which collections the material is downloaded. .collections the material is downloaded. .

4. 4. Uses and Users BlockUses and Users Block 4.2. 4.2. Total of visitsTotal of visits

Observations:Observations: It would be desirable to place this point in 4.1It would be desirable to place this point in 4.1

because it mentions the user and the documents because it mentions the user and the documents and / or transactions in 4.2and / or transactions in 4.2

5. 5. Library staff BlockLibrary staff Block5.1 5.1 Number of employeesNumber of employees

5.2 5.2 Number of full-time employeesNumber of full-time employees

Observations:Observations: It should include some questions about staff It should include some questions about staff

trainingtraining

6. 6. Budget BlockBudget Block

Observations:Observations: It is difficult to differentiate spending in the It is difficult to differentiate spending in the

public library because:public library because: Staff costs are included in the overall budget of Staff costs are included in the overall budget of

the organization at local / municipal levelsthe organization at local / municipal levels There is no direct purchase by the library. There is no direct purchase by the library.

Generally books and magazines are received Generally books and magazines are received by centralized purchasingby centralized purchasing

Annex. DefinitionsAnnex. Definitions

Observations:Observations:

It defines concepts which are not included in the It defines concepts which are not included in the questionnaire, for example:questionnaire, for example:

printed booksprinted books point 4, downloaded content and content units (it point 4, downloaded content and content units (it

is not clear)is not clear)

Annex. DefinitionsAnnex. Definitions

Observations:Observations: Public Library "This definition includes the Public Library "This definition includes the

services that a public library provides to services that a public library provides to schools…" Is it a synonym for school library? (it schools…" Is it a synonym for school library? (it is not clear)is not clear)

ConclusionsConclusions

We welcome the existence of the pilot project We welcome the existence of the pilot project that allows us to draw several conclusions as that allows us to draw several conclusions as respondents, including positive achievements respondents, including positive achievements and pending improvements.and pending improvements.

The draft reiterates the concern of Unesco to The draft reiterates the concern of Unesco to rely on reliable library statistics in Latin America rely on reliable library statistics in Latin America and the Caribbeanand the Caribbean

SuggestionsSuggestions Improve data collection instrument for the Improve data collection instrument for the

items of the questionnaire that correspond to items of the questionnaire that correspond to the Latin American reality.the Latin American reality.

It is desirable that representatives of Latin It is desirable that representatives of Latin America and the Caribbean who have a more America and the Caribbean who have a more realistic vision of the region could participate in realistic vision of the region could participate in drawing up the final statistical instrument. drawing up the final statistical instrument.

SuggestionsSuggestions

Reviewing the definitions of the questionnaire Reviewing the definitions of the questionnaire to ensure that linguistic diversity is represented to ensure that linguistic diversity is represented for Latin America and the Caribbean, which for Latin America and the Caribbean, which has a Spanish speaking majority.has a Spanish speaking majority.

Focus on training people how to quantify the Focus on training people how to quantify the data (measure) before installing the Unesco data (measure) before installing the Unesco questionnaire in Latin America and the questionnaire in Latin America and the Caribbean. This is because existing data may Caribbean. This is because existing data may be measured in a different way.be measured in a different way.

SuggestionsSuggestions

Translate the questionnaire into Portuguese to Translate the questionnaire into Portuguese to facilitate data collection in Brazil because it is facilitate data collection in Brazil because it is the most populated country and there are more the most populated country and there are more libraries in this region.libraries in this region.

Divide the questionnaire into two Divide the questionnaire into two questionnaires; one for public libraries and the questionnaires; one for public libraries and the other for university libraries.other for university libraries.

SuggestionsSuggestions

Emphasize the approach towards the printed Emphasize the approach towards the printed collections giving them the same importance collections giving them the same importance as electronic collections, especially in public as electronic collections, especially in public libraries.libraries.

To encourage compliance with the To encourage compliance with the recommendations of Unesco thirty-seven recommendations of Unesco thirty-seven years ago on the bodies responsible for years ago on the bodies responsible for collecting and reporting statistics relating to collecting and reporting statistics relating to libraries in each member country.libraries in each member country.

SuggestionsSuggestions

Foster, through agreements or commitments, to Foster, through agreements or commitments, to coordinate the receipt and transmission of data at coordinate the receipt and transmission of data at country level in qualified entities that commit country level in qualified entities that commit themselves formally to such activity, one for public themselves formally to such activity, one for public libraries and other for university libraries.libraries and other for university libraries.

To determine the collection of library statistics on an To determine the collection of library statistics on an annual basis. This is based on the need to avoid annual basis. This is based on the need to avoid loss of data and forcing organization’s collectors to loss of data and forcing organization’s collectors to maintain systematic behavior.maintain systematic behavior.

Muchas Gracias.Muchas Gracias.Thank YouThank You

MerciMerci

texidor.silvia@gmail.comrominadelorenzo@gmail.com