LibEcon Project Newsletters

The latest LibEcon newsletter is available from this website and includes a summary of the top public libraries, relevant news for the sector and articles on the future of LibEcon and libraries in the UK.

Published:  August 2004

Every year LibEcon collects information on activity, service provision and expenditure at a National Level. The data are collected in a standardised format to enable meaningful comparisons and benchmarking to be made between countries. The information in a raw format and with easy to use benchmarking dissemination tools is used by policy makers to inform decisions at a national level and is also made freely available for research purposes.

Published:  August 2003

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.

Published:  August 2002

The importance of libraries in Europe has been growing despite a 7% contraction in the number of service points over the past decade (1991 - 1998). This is one of the conclusions arising from a review of the statistical returns made by the 29 participating countries in the LibEcon2000 network.

Published:  July 2000

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 aims to generate the necessary statistical evidence to assist policy makers in reviewing the funding needs of the wider library service.

Published:  July 1999

Newsletter 1 - Survey of Libraries' Activities begins.

Libraries have the potential to develop an ever increasing role in the supply of knowledge.  It is estimated that at the beginning of the decade in the main countries in Europe, total expenditure on libraries amounted to ecu 8.45 billions (equivalent to 0.17% of GDP).  As we approach the end of the century, rapid progress in methods of distributing knowledge by electronic means is being made and librarians are playing a key role in managing this information revolution.

Published:  July 1998