Newsletter 4

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LibEcon's Services Expand.

LibEcon is now able to provide an information analysis service to any country that can provide us with raw data in a standard format.

LibEcon data is collected through a network of voluntary country coordinators who liase with LibEcon staff and collate and validate nationally published data. We analyse the returns and answer any questions arising from it. However, some of our country coordinators go beyond this and also:

• Take steps to improve national data collection, bringing it into line with ISO 2789 and thus with LibEcon as well
• Undertake national surveys where none previously existed in order to supply data.

You can find a complete list of country coordinators at the back of this newsletter and details of suppliers of data for different library sectors on our website.

Country Coordinators Needed

In order to expand our service to more countries we would like to contact potential country coordinators in countries that do not currently supply us with data. If you are interested in this role and would like more information, contact David Fuegi at david.fuegi@mdrpartners.com. We appreciate that most countries cannot supply data for all library sectors, so our minimum requirement is data for one sector for a recent year. If you can only collate data from some libraries in the sector, we can agree with you a methodology for grossing up the data to represent all libraries. Unfortunately, if this is impossible we will be unable to use your data. We do not require information on all questions on the form to be able to use the data.

LibEcon Welcomes Our New Country Coordinators

We would like to welcome our new country coordinators, from the following countries, who joined us in July 2002:

• USA
• Mexico
• Turkey
• Korea
• Canada
• Australia
• Japan
• New Zealand

Updates of Data on the Web

The statistical database held on the web-site containing historic data, for countries included in previous LibEcon surveys, shows 5 years worth of data. Results can be displayed in both a graphical and tabular format. In addition, estimates are included to make-up for missing elements so that informed judgements can be made about the probable totals. The historic coverage relates to the five sectors of libraries which are: National; Public; Higher Education; School and Special Libraries.

Data from recent questionnaire returns is currently being validated and put up on the website to cover the years up to and including the year 2000.

What's New ?

Pulman Guidelines Shortly to be Launched

The European Commission's research programme for a Userfriendly Information Society (DG Information Society) has launched the PULMAN Network of Excellence. The new PULMAN Network promotes the sharing of policies and practices for the digital era in public libraries and other cultural organisations. PULMAN will publish guidelines manuals, translated into all major European languages, covering all aspects of innovative public library service provision. The LIBECON database was used to provide the statistical background for this work.

One of the manuals will cover Performance Measures and Evaluative Tools and might be of interest to our readers. The manuals are expected to be published shortly and will be available on the PULMANS website at www.pulmanweb.org.

Eurostat to Address Cultural Statistics

In 1997, Eurostat was mandated to address cultural statistics instead of continuing to address them in a cross sectoral, generic way.

Eurostat began working on its new task by summoning the Leading Experts Group (LEG) which produced reports in 2000* about cultural statistics in the EU. That same year, Eurostat set up a number of groups to take the work forward:

• TASK FORCE 1 - Statistics on cultural employment
• TASK FORCE 2 - Statistics on cultural expenditure and finance
• TASK FORCE 3 - Participation in cultural activities
• WORKING GROUP ON CULTUAL STATISTICS

People interested in library statistics may find Eurostat's work in this area significant because it is a source of actual data, covering areas such as cultural participation. For more information and to access working documents visit: www.forum.europa.eu.int:80/Members/irc/dsis/Home/main

You will need to register and go to the section on education and culture.

* The LEG report was called: Eurostat Working Papers, Population and social conditions 3/ 2000/E/N 1; Cultural Statistics in the EU; Final report of the LEG available at www.kulturpolitik.lu

e-Europe - Benchmarking the Use of New Technologies in Libraries

E-Europe has a statistical benchmarking programme that benchmarks the use of new technologies. The programme is based on a number of key indicators that come from a variety of sources including the OECD, surveys and various studies.

Indicator 14 specifically mentions libraries. It recommends that one free internet point per 1,000 inhabitants should be made available in public buildings, such as libraries.

For more information visit: http://europa.eu.int/information_society/eeurope/benchmarking/index_en.htm

Benchmarking Digitisation to be Introduced Across Europe

To develop a coordinated approach towards digitisation across Europe, EU Member States met in LUND last April and agreed the Lund Principles and Action Plan.

It was agreed that Member States and the Commission would help move the agenda forward using benchmarking to help develop the process. An open model for benchmarking digitisation policies in the field of cultural and scientific content is currently being devised.

The approach is ranging from bottom-up involvement of the cultural institutions themselves, for example in determining cases of best practice, to top-down initiatives on policies. So far the model is process based but it is hoped to develop a parallel metric approach.

For more information visit: www.cordis.lu/ist/ka3/digicult/lund_principles There is also a related network called Minerva that you can visit at: www.amitie.it/minerva

Use the online database at www.libecon.org

Visit the LIBECON website, www.libecon.org, for the latest questionnaires and guidance notes; access to the LIBECON database; copies of previous newsletters; statistical sources from contributing countries and contacts for our country coordinators.

The statistical database held on the website contains historical data from countries included in previous LIBECON surveys, showing five years worth of data. Estimates are included to make up for missing elements so that informed judgements can be made about the probable totals. The historical coverage relates to the five sectors of library: National, Public, Higher Education, School and special libraries.

Online database results

Following these selections the following output is produced:

• Automatically generated 'statistical maps'
• Regional groupings and individual country tabulated datasets
• Scatter graphs and histograms to highlight trends
• The results are also downloadable in *.csv file format

Data from recent questionnaire returns are currently being validated and posted up on the website to cover the years up to and including 2000.

U.S. Congress Saves the NCLIS

The U.S. Administration's FY 2002 Budget proposed no further funding for the National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS) thereby threatening its existence.

The U.S. Congress rejected this proposal and provided $1 million for the continuing operation of the NCLIS, but with a budget cut of 30 per cent. Under its Director of Statistics and Surveys, Denise Davis - a member of the LIBECON Strategic Advisory Group, the service continues to be active advising the government and other organisations on national library and information policies and plans.

The NCLIS reports directly to the U.S. government about the:

• implementation of national policy
• results of its studies, surveys and analyses of the nation's library and information needs
• conduct of its hearings and publications it issues
• development of its overall plans for meeting national library and informational needs and for the coordination of activities at all government levels
• policy advice provided to the IMLS Director regarding financial assistance for library services.

A revision of NISO Z39.7 (Library Statistics Standard) is expected later this year and work continues on network performance measures.

For more information about NCLIS and to access actual statistics of USA libraries visit: www.nclis.gov

LIBECON workshop for country coordinators

To support our country coordinators and other key LIBECON stakeholders we will be organising a workshop next year that will be linked to a related international event.

The workshop will:

• Physically bring together key stakeholders in the field of library statistics for mutual learning and consultation for the first time since 1997
• Provide an opportunity for stakeholders to influence the direction of LIBECON
• Clarify LIBECON's role in international standardisation
• Promote the practice of international benchmarking.

• Learn about international developments and good practice
• Network with peers and other stakeholders
• Influence the direction of standardisation and practice in the field of library statistics

As information becomes available about the workshop it will be posted up on the LIBECON website that can be visited at www.libecon.org

LIBECON establishes the Strategic Advisory Group

The Strategic Advisory Group has been established to give advice on the operation and development of the LIBECON project and to cement relations with other organisations and stakeholders in the field of library statistics.

The first meeting of the Strategic Advisory Group was held on 8 February 2002 in London where it recognised the need to put relationships between various groups, uch as the IFLA and ISO, on a more formal basis.

We are delighted to announce that the following organisations have joined the Strategic Advisory Group:

• Eurostat (Michail Skaliots)
• Eurostat Museums Group (Guy Frank)
• IFLA (Henrik Aslund)
• ISO 2789 (Roswitha Poll)
• ARL (Martha Kyrillidou/Julia Bilxrud)
• NCLIS (Denise Davis)
• Canada (Ralph Manning)

UNESCO were unable to be represented, although John Sumsion has agreed to be a co-opted member of the group. The Group plans to meet annually.