Newsletter 2

Second survey of libraries' activities begins.

Each year presents library managers with fresh challenges: The opportunities arising from the new information and communications technologies are placing new demands on libraries, and LibEcon 2000 aims to generate the necessary statistical evidence to assist policy makers in reviewing the funding needs of the wider library service. 29 countries are included in the scope of LibEcon 2000, and in 1998 the majority provided information to establish a database covering the activity and expenditure of this important service industry.

The survey established that throughout the 1990’s there has been a decline in service points (-2.0% p.a. on average) but an overall increase in book stock (+0.5% p.a.). There was a growing emphasis on adding to stock in National and Tertiary (Higher Education) libraries, whilst the diminishing volume of new books and periodicals purchased by Public Libraries might have been symptomatic of the general constraints on public resources.

In 1997 it is estimated that 410,000 staff were employed across all sectors of libraries in Europe, equivalent to 0.9 per every 1,000 population. 42% of these staff were professional (qualified) librarians. There were 2.44 billion recorded visits to libraries resulting in 2.75 billion transactions.

Work is now being undertaken to extend the database and refine the comparative figures for the activity between each country. The results will be available in early 2000, in the LibEcon Millennium Study of Libraries.

Implementation of performance measurement in public libraries in Flanders (Belgium).

Since the beginning of 1998, the application of performance measurement (PM) is compulsory in all 321 public libraries in Flanders, the Dutch speaking Northern part of Belgium.

This was the result of the initiative and support the Ministry of the Flemish Community gave to the creation of a Flemish toolbox for measuring library performance. This was achieved in 1997, with the introduction of the Flemish Manual - an adaptation of Nick Moore's draft. In doing so, Flanders followed his recommendation to suit local circumstances. Modifications include shifting stock capacity measures and user surveys from obligatory level 1 to optional level 2. Flanders has taken the pragmatic approach not to overburden librarians. Once the 1998-figures have been processed and made available, it is hoped that discussion and reflection will lead to review. The most tangible result is that in Flanders we have adopted a single methodology, including a fixed set of parameters, that is applied in all public libraries, without exception. Policy makers now have an instrument to develop their strategies. The same instrument that will enable any individual librarian in Flanders to monitor quality in his library.

That is, in a cyclical movement:

• define proper and realistic goals
• interpret the results of Performance Measurement
• constantly improve the quality of the library services.

Geert Roelandts
Ministry of Flanders Community Education and Libraries Division
Markiesstraat 1
B-1000 Brussels
Belgium
Tel:  32 2 553 4215
Fax:  32 2 553 4239

A review of european libraries in the 1990s

Following the submission of statistical returns made last year it is possible to make some preliminary comments about library activities for the years 1991 to 1997. At this early stage in the LibEcon 2000 project the figures need to be treated with caution, pending further refinements to the database. All the same, they provide a more up-to-date and more comprehensive base than has hitherto been available. More reliability can be placed upon the estimates for national, tertiary and public libraries than for those of other sectors, because these are more frequently surveyed in national statistics and are more readily identifiable.

It is estimated that in 1997 there were 190,000 service points throughout the study area. There has been a considerable contraction since 1991 - particularly in the Central And East European countries (CEC), where the main closures were taking place in public libraries.

Figure 1 traces the decline in tertiary and public library service points, showing the differences between CEC and Western Europe (EU) countries. Tertiary library service points fell by only 2% in CEC countries, but by 14% in EU.

In public libraries the position was reversed: there was a decline of 30% in CEC countries, and only 10% in EU.

The number of books and bound periodicals in libraries across all the sectors are estimated to be just over three billion. There has been an overall increase of 2.8% during the review period. All individual sectors have reflected this except the special library sector, where a large reduction in additions is no doubt the result of the reduced number of service points, as well as the impact of electronic services in special libraries.

The annual additions of books and bound periodicals to stock in 1997 are estimated at 148 million - a reduction of 4.4% over the period since 1991. The bulk of the additions come from public libraries (64 million) and school libraries (51 million). Over the period, national libraries had a 15% increase and tertiary libraries a 9% increase, but public library additions fell by 7%.

As might be expected, the situation for audio visual material additions showed more dramatic fluctuations, depicted in Figure 2. There were significant additions in national, public and school libraries materials by 39%, 17% and 60% respectively.

But audio-visual resources have become less fashionable in tertiary libraries, falling over the period by 35%.

It is no surprise that the increases in electronic services are even more pronounced - as reflected in reports of the numbers of workstations available to users in different sectors. (These figures may in some countries have been distorted by the delayed introduction of reporting on this feature). Figure 3 depicts the increases: from 35 to 1,625 workstations available in national libraries; 5,700 to 25,000 in tertiary libraries; and 10,800 to 50,900 in public libraries. But the numbers of workstations available are still relatively modest: in 1997 there were still, on average, only 3.2 workstations in every tertiary library, and a mere 0.7 in every public library.

The relationship between registered members, visits and loans, is exemplified in Figure 4. The number of registered members increased in three key sectors: in national libraries by 24%, to 3.3 million in 1997; in tertiary libraries by 40% to 17.6 million, reflecting the wider availability of higher education; and in public libraries by 5%, to 101 million (despite the fall in the number of services points).

Correspondingly, the numbers of visits also increased in these sectors: in national libraries by 39% to 12.3 million; in tertiary libraries by 60% to 231 million; and in public libraries by only 2% to 2.2 billion.

Loans over the same period have also increased in all three sectors: by 10% to 18.2 million a year in national libraries; by 53% to 220 million in tertiary libraries; and by 10% to 2.5 billion in public libraries. The loan increases are largely a function of increased membership: loans per member per year over the period 1991-97 have only slightly increased in tertiary libraries (from 12 to 13), and in public libraries (from 24 to 25) - and have actually fallen in national libraries (from 6.3 to 5). The average numbers of loans per visit are low: 1.5 in national libraries, 1.1 in public libraries, and 0.95 in tertiary libraries.

There has been a considerable increase in the amount of interlending activity over the period 1991-97, as shown in Figure 5. In national libraries the numbers of loans issued rose by 25% to 6.1 million a year; in tertiary libraries by 37% to 5.3 million a year; and in public libraries by 35% to 2.8 million a year. In all sectors, loans received exceeded loans issues. In 1997, 0.96 loans were issued in national libraries for every one received, 0.86 in tertiary libraries, and 0.63 in public libraries.

The database shows some changes in the numbers of library staff. The number of trained librarians in all sectors in 1997 is 172,200 in 1997 - down by 1% from 1991. The sub-analysis shows an increase in the tertiary sector but a reduction in public libraries. There are larger numbers of ‘other staff’ - 237,600 in 1997. This shows an increase of 10% on 1991, and means that there are 1.4 support staff for every trained librarian.

The database will be updated over the next two years, and should significantly extend the reliability and scope of the information available. It is also hoped that as library managers begin to use these figures, reporting on the key features will increase.

In the meantime, the substantive findings from the survey being conducted in the Summer of 1999 will be reported in the Libecon 2000 millennium study, to be published in early 2000.

The Czech Republic

Mapping the LibEcon2000 Questionnaire onto National Statistical Activity for Libraries

The National Library of the Czech Republic (Library Science Division) has recently compiled an analysis of statistical questionnaires used each year within the Republic and also questionnaires seeking international data - UNESCO and LibEcon 2000. In working with these questionnaires we found 204 different indicators to describe the state and activity of libraries. We could group most of these indicators into 12 service topics, but nevertheless 57 indicators were left to describe "Others" activities.

The main topics are:-

• Searches
• Library Staff
• Economy
• Total Running Costs
• Photocopies and Micrographic Media
• International Inter-Library Lending
• Loans within the framework of the State
• Number of Registered Users
• Number of Serials
• Accessions
• Collections
• Total Number of Libraries

The most frequently requested indicator relies on "Total number of employees", followed by "Number of loans within the framework of the state". 11% from the total number of investigated indicators are related to accessions and a further 11% are related to finance. Units titled Collections and Loans make more then 10% each from the total number. At the other end of the scale, the sections least commonly requested are "Number of registered users" and "Photocopies and micrographic media made by a library".

Analysis of the most often used statistical questionnaires for libraries in the Czech Republic reveals what data are requested and what indicators are produced.

The activity of the National Library in its co-ordinating role between all other Czech libraries and international statistical data collection agencies, is directed mainly at public libraries, whose statistical reports are now almost in harmony. Work is proceeding with the harmonisation of statistical reporting system.

It is apparent from the analysis of questionnaires related to the libraries of the Czech Academy of Sciences, school libraries, academic libraries, medical libraries, public libraries and museum and gallery libraries that most compare well with their counterparts in LibEcon 2000.

The main problem area is the indicators used by LibEcon to deal with equipment, services and finance which are not yet well covered by Czech data. To some extent this state of affairs relates to the transformation of our economy.

Ms. Luxova
National Library
Klementinum 190
CZ - 11000  Praha 1
E-mail:  ok.ok@nkp.cz