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www.uis.unesco.org
Why library statistics? The statistician’s view
Simon Ellis
Head of Science Culture and Communications Statistics
www.uis.unesco.org
International demand for information literacy statistics
Millennium Development Goals
World Summit on the Information Society
• Access to public information
• Indicator framework; Partnership for Measurement of ICTs for Development – UNESCO, ITU, UNCTAD, OECD, EU, UN
Education For All
• Indicator framework; UNESCO Global EFA Monitoring Report ‘literate environment’
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Why do libraries need statistics?
What can’t be measured can’t be managed
Decline in library function/usage??
Negotiating a new role
• Digital archives
• Information provision
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Libraries services - someone from whom you can find out anything!
No service!
Training?
Gaming?
???
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The data pyramid/pagoda
national
regional
global
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Libraries as places for statistics
Recognised in every community
‘controlled environment’
Professional staff
Sampling base; census records, electoral registers, telephone books
Demand; people come to libraries with questions about their community SO a good place to assess demand for information
IT resources for examining results
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IFLA/ISO/UIS Library survey 2007 – the response
26/41 countries responded after three reminders from UNESCO & IFLA
Only basic data on stock/ no. of institutions available
Few responses on events, training, e-info etc
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Information literacy indicators 2 - access
0
100
200
300
400
500
600
700
800
900
1000
Bah
amas
Guy
ana
Trin
idad
and
Tob
ago
Mex
ico
Ven
ezue
la
Jam
aica
Col
ombi
a
Cos
ta R
ica
Per
u
El S
alva
dor
Sai
nt L
ucia
Ant
igua
and
Bar
buda
Sur
inam
e
0.0
20.0
40.0
60.0
80.0
100.0
120.0
Number of volumes per 1000 inhabitants
Number of volumes per 1000 literate inhabitants
Percentage of public libraries offering an internet access for users
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Library statistics in transitional & developing countries
Lower levels of literacy
• Greater need for surveys of ‘readers’
• locational studies; use reader surveys to place libraries
– where they will be used (in walking distance)
– Where they can help fight illiteracy and poverty
Fewer resources
• What is the minimum set of statistics needed to run a local library?
• Lack of IT
– Reliance on manual counts/catalogues etc
– National data collected by hand & less networking
• More emphasis on effective use of national network; getting the right books to the right places
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Libraries as place – the minimum
The place – a tree
A certain time of day
Easy walking access
Use of mobile technology
Stock of books
Information services
Identifiable location
A ‘known’ community
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What libraries don’t measure?
Libraries should measure demand
• Surveys of readers, community surveys
• Use census data
• Barriers to use
• Most convenient opening times
• Interest in events and exhibitions
Access issues
• Public transport
Libraries as data centres always with something new to say about the community
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We need discussion here on
What are the best statistical indicators for libraries?
Are different indicators required by developing and developed countries?
How can we encourage libraries to collect more statistics?
• Choose the indicators that are most relevant….national….regional …international. Which ones are they?
• Build ownership and capacity for data collection, in a climate of lack of resources. How?
Only when there is good national data will there be good international data
Only when there is good international data will libraries role in ‘knowledge societies’, Education for All, Information for All…. be recognised