challenges for libraries in difficult economic times slic/jisc/scotland’s colleges cop fe...
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Challenges for libraries in difficult economic times
SLIC/JISC/Scotland’s Colleges CoP FE Conference
18 November 2010
Sally CurryResearch Information Network
Research Information Network
A small policy unit funded by the four HE Funding Councils, the seven Research Councils and the three National Libraries
Aims: to enhance and broaden the understanding of how researchers in the UK create and use information resources and services
Supports: the development of effective policies and practices for researchers, institutions, funders, information professionals and all others involved in the research information landscape
The last decade for UK libraries
Chart 1: Indexed real terms expenditure on libraries 1998-2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Exp
end
itu
re (
1998
=100
for
each
dat
a s
erie
s)
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
The last decade for UK libraries
Chart 2: Library expenditure as a proportion of overall institution
expenditure 1998-2008
0.0
0.5
1.0
1.5
2.0
2.5
3.0
3.5
4.0
4.5
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Pe
rce
nta
ge
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Where and how to make cuts?
Planning for cuts across services, staffing, infrastructure and content
staffing = >50% of expenditure in UK university libraries significant differences between individual libraries (30%
to>70%)
information content = c 36% of expenditure on average across all libraries
significant variations between library groups and individual libraries (<20% to >50%)
Staffing
expenditure on staff has risen in real terms by 31% in UK university libraries
45% in research-intensive universities
highest as a proportion of expenditure (c 60%) in colleges
significant differences between individual libraries (30%->70%)
but academic staff and student numbers have risen faster
Chart 21: Staff expenditure as a percentage of overall library expenditure
1998-2008
0
10
20
30
40
50
60
70
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Pe
rce
nta
ge
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Chart 20: Indexed real terms expenditure on staff 1998-2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Exp
en
dit
ure
(1998=
100 f
or
each
data
seri
es)
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Service and infrastructure cuts?
closely related to staffing
cuts in opening hours, training, and enquiry services
capital cuts? postponing of IT
projects and building plans
Content: books
expenditure on books has fallen, from c.12% to 9% of overall library expenditure
power of the student voice in demanding books and other library services
UK students less likely than in US to purchase texts on reading lists
e-books the future?
Chart 5: Indexed real terms expenditure on books 1998-2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Exp
endi
ture
(199
8=10
0 fo
r ea
ch d
ata
seri
es)
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Content: journals
expenditure on journals has risen dramatically in research-intensive universities
different picture for recently-created universities and colleges
Chart 7: Indexed real terms expenditure on serials 1998-2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
200
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Exp
endi
ture
(199
8=10
0 fo
r ea
ch d
ata
seri
es)
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Content: journals
journal expenditure has risen on average from 15% to 19% of overall library expenditure
over 24% in older universities >70% of expenditure on
information resources in many universities
sustainability vs users’ expectations
those who demand don’t pay: demand therefore price-inelastic
future of big deals?
Chart 8: Serials expenditure as a percentage of overall library
expenditure 1998-2008
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Perc
entag
e
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Cuts in content?
cuts in monographs, other print books, and printed serials the most favoured
cuts in e-journals and e-books least favoured
Content
expenditure on content in UK has risen 34% in real terms
+52% in research-intensive universities
-2% in new universities
as proportion of overall library expenditure, relatively stable at 34%
highest in old universities Lowest in HE colleges
Chart 4: Information provision expenditure as a percentage of overall
library expenditure 1998-2008
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
35
40
45
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Pe
rce
nta
ge
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
Chart 3: Indexed real terms expenditure on information provision 1998-2008
0
20
40
60
80
100
120
140
160
180
1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008
Year
Exp
end
itu
re (
1998
=10
0 fo
r ea
ch d
ata
seri
es)
RLUK Pre-92 universities Post-92 universities Other HE colleges All SCONUL members
New areas and activities
supporting developments in teaching and learning
information literacy in an ever more complex information world
how well is library-based training resourced and co-ordinated with others?
identification of priorities? sustainability?
New strategies for content?
from just-in-case to just-in time? from librarian-controlled to user-
generated acquisitions? from hybrid to e-only?
drivers and constraints
consortial collection development? ‘cloud-sourced’ research collections?
role of Special Collections?
New strategies for services?
reduce or eliminate the routine in order to take on new activities?
outsource what doesn’t need to be done locally?
cataloguing? websites?
new services for users? data mining and manipulation? creating custom collections? information management and curation?
digital preservation – data management? consortia and collaboration?
shared services SHEDL
Shared services
‘… it is crucial for libraries to exploit the potential for co-operation in developing a range of shared services in order to enhance efficiency as well as the scope and quality of what they provide to both academic staff and students’
New strategies for staffing?
reduction in need for the routine? focus on areas of biggest impact
speedy delivery of information and services accurately meeting the needs of students and staff
library staff need to be willing to develop new skills and take on new roles
Importance of sharing experiences and good practice
Impact and value
essential to analyse library activities against institutional goals and learning outcomes
current performance indicators too basic
demonstrate return on investment success in achieving institutional goals how the library improves the student experience
and supports teaching learning and research
market the value of the library to institutional managers
References
Challenges for libraries in difficult economic times. RIN in association with SCONUL http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/using-and-accessing-information-resources/challenges-academic-libraries-difficult-economic-
Trends in the finances of UK higher education libraries 1999-2009 A RIN report based on SCONUL library statistics. http://www.rin.ac.uk/our-work/communicating-and-disseminating-research/trends-finances-uk-higher-education-libraries-1999
CIBER (2009) The economic downturn and libraries, survey findings www.ucl.ac.uk/infostudies/research/ciber/charleston-survey.pdf
Measuring library impact on learning at the University of Huddersfield, Sue White and Graham Stone. http://eprints.hud.ac.uk/7842/1/SCONUL_2010_white_stone.pdf
All the RIN reports and briefings are downloadable from the RIN website
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