UK Higher Education library statistics

The role of SCONUL

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UK HE library statistics

About SCONUL Development of the statistical return Uses of the data

Publications Database Analyses

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About SCONUL

1950 SCONUL founded 1987 started collecting statistics 1994 merged with COPOL 1995 LISU started compiling data 2001 merged with HCLRG

All UK universities and all but a handful of HE colleges now members

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Development of the return

Developed by librarians for librarians Aim:

“…Sound information on which policy decisions can be based…”

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Management

WGPI Oversees data collection and production of

reports Sub-group to consider detail of return

SCONUL Office Issues passwords Controls access to return and statistics Chases late respondents

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Processing

LISU Monitors response Answers enquiries Compiles data and prepares reports Maintains internal and web databases Prepares commissioned reports

ILRT Hosts & maintains main web site Updates return form each year Notifies LISU when returns are made

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Development

Last major revision of form was more than ten years ago

Small changes made annually Revising/clarifying definitions Adapting to changes in library operations Evolution not revolution

Data now collected only through web form

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The current return

Organisational structure Accommodation

Library space, seating & workstations

Provision of stock Print & electronic,

stock & acquisitions, disposals

Clientele

Use Visits, circulation,

ILL, enquiries, e-use Staff numbers Expenditure

Staff, information provision, equipment, other

Income

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Using the data

Statistics are becoming more reliable each year

Most areas have ten or more years data for analysis

Valuable for all sorts of uses Internal management Benchmarking Advocacy – local and national

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Statistics products

SCONUL Annual Statistics HELMS Trend analysis Web database

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SCONUL Annual Statistics

Reproduce data as submitted Including all notes

Derived statistics Sector & overall summary figures

Mean, median, quartiles, sum Brief commentary

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SCONUL Annual Statistics

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Higher Education Library Management Statistics

Supplementary to main report Small set of management statistics

Library specific from SCONUL Relevant notes reproduced

Institution wide from HESA Aimed at senior institution management HESA format

Country totals Brief commentary

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HELMS

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The SCONUL database

Data from 1993-94 Aim

Comparison of institutions Sector-wide totals

Edited for Completeness Consistency

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Trend analysis

Key set of management statistics Contextual

information Service provision Library use Staff Financial data

Based on edited data 10-year trends

By sector Tables and graphical

presentation Extensive commentary

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Trend analysis

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Statistics on the Web

Edited data Selected fields

Most institutions Sector totals Analyses

Institutional Data Ranked Lists Multiple Institutions Time Series Multiple Variables Time Series Download

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Institutional data

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Ranked lists

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Time series

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Service evaluation

Individual libraries Monitoring overall trends Identifying areas of service growth and decline. Internal planning and decision-making.

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Benchmarking

Ten year trends Baseline for statistical benchmarking

Inform selection of comparator institutions Background for process benchmarking Comparison against averages

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Advocacy

Within institutions Didn’t we do well?

Performance Aren’t we doing badly?

Funding Supporting business cases for additional funding. Demonstration of value to our stakeholders.

Nationally Informing government Sector-wide negotiation Strategic planning

Service providers

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SCONUL statistics

“SCONUL’s statistics are hard work to produce and they are worked hard once they are published.”