1. Introduction: Libraries have
been keeping voluminous library statistics for many decades to focus their
resources on needed services, demonstrate the value of their services, aid
library administrator in the administration of their libraries, and to satisfy
the needs of funding bodies. Historically, the emphasis has been on profiling
communities and library users, collection sizes and growth, and circulation.
The qualitative and quantitative data regarding library staff, library
infrastructure or facilities, library collection, library services, library
users and use of the library or any part of it are known as library statistics.
2. Need of
Library Statistics:
According to IFLA Library Statistics Manifesto which was endorsed by the
Governing Board on 9 April 2010, “Library statistics are necessary for the
effective management of libraries, but they are still more important for
promoting library services to the different types of stakeholders: policy
makers and funders, library managers and staff, actual and potential users, the
media and the general public. Where statistics are aimed at policy makers,
managers and funders, they are essential for decisions on levels of service and
future strategic planning”. The need of library statistics can be looked from
the following angles-
a) Comparison: It helps to the
librarian for comparison between previous and current library activities. It
also helps in comparing a particular library with other library.
b) Evaluation: It helps to
librarian for evaluation of the library resources, services and staff
performance.
c) Report: It helps to
prepare different kinds of report and writing down the history of the library.
User statistics is an essential component of the annual report of the library.
The annual report supplemented by the user statistics in figures or any graph
carries more weight and become more convincing to the authorities.
3. Sources of
Library Statistics:
Library statistics can be collected from-
a) Different
Registers:
Registers maintained by different sections for example gate register or entry
register or visitors register, accession register; etc can be highly useful for
collecting different kinds of library statistics. Daily or weekly or monthly or
quarterly statistical reports sent by different sections to the librarian are
considered as useful sources of users statistics. The visitor’s register that
is kept on the entrance door of the library where the users are required to
fill up the columns with their signature gives the total number of library
users of a library in a particular day, month or year.
b) Library
Software: The
library automation, digital library or any other software also generate
different kinds of reports which open up different dimension of the library
statistics. While all automated library systems keep statistics on
acquisitions, cataloguing, and circulation activity, some do not keep track of
the number of searches against the patron access catalogue because that is a
resource-intensive activity. It is possible to include this capability as an
extra-cost option. The cost consists of minor programming and, possibly, some
hardware.
c) Web
Analytics:
Web analytics is the measurement, collection, analysis and reporting of web
data for purposes of understanding and optimizing web usage. Web analytics is
not just a tool for measuring web traffic but can be used as a tool to assess
and improve the effectiveness of a website. Google Analytics is the most widely
used on-site web analytics service; although new tools are emerging that
provide additional layers of information, including heat maps and session
replay.
d) Model
Questionnaire of IFLA: A model questionnaire for public and academic
libraries has been developed in a joint project of IFLA and UNESCO and ISO, the
International Organization for Standardization. Based on the ISO standard for
library statistics, a questionnaire with 23 questions has been developed that
considers both traditional and electronic library services.
e) ISO 16439
standard:
The standard ISO 16439, Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of
libraries, is the first documentation concerning the evaluation of the impact
of libraries. In the standard, the concept of impact and other focal terms are
defined and the standard is intended as a tool for the evaluation of impact of
all types of libraries.
4. Presentation
of Library Statistics: A simple
database or spreadsheet on a PC is all that most libraries need to maintain and
manipulate their data. Library statistics can be put in different forms such as
–
a) Database: A database is a
collection of information that is organized into fields (a single piece of
information), records (a complete set of fields), and files (a collection of
records). Among the most widely used is Microsoft Access.
b) Spreadsheet: A spreadsheet
is a rectangular grid used to collect and calculate data. It is basically an
electronic version of a ledger book. It allows one to figure totals, calculate
formulae, sort information, and translate the information in a spreadsheet into
graphs. Among the most widely used spreadsheets is Microsoft Excel.
The library statistics latter on can
be presented in tables, graphs, bar diagram, pie diagram, histogram, line
diagram and so on.
5. Conclusion: Library
statistics are used to inform, promote and advocate library services. They
demonstrate the value that libraries provide to their users and to society.
When presented to policy makers, funding institutions or the general public,
they will influence the strategic planning, and they can create and maintain confidence
in libraries.
How to Cite this
Article?
APA Citation, 7th Ed.: Barman, B. (2020). A comprehensive book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications.
Chicago 16th Ed.: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. Guwahati:
New Publications, 2020.
MLA Citation 8th Ed: Barman, Badan. A Comprehensive Book on Library and Information Science. New
Publications, 2020.

No comments:
Post a Comment