Article on Evidence Based Practice in Librarianship

In Canadian Library Online Journal

In April 2008 School Library Journal published an article entitled "The Evidence Based Manifesto for School Librarians" by Ross Todd of Rutgers University. This past April a sequel article by Todd appeared in the Canadian online journal, Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP). His article is quite informative in many ways, but it misrespresents what evidence based practice is all about.

This month EBLIP published a commentary I wrote primarily in reaction to Todd's articles. I also question the main claim by evidence based practice in medicine and health care that the approach is 'revolutionary.' I think it isn't.

Article on Library Advocacy Research

July/Sept Issue of Public Library Quarterly

Last year the Online Computer Library Center (OCLC) published a voluminous report from the research portion of a marketing strategy project aimed at increasing public support for libraries. The study, From Awareness to Funding: A Study of Library Support in America, was funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. Subsequently, the Gates Foundation awarded OCLC a $5 million grant to develop the specifics of a public libraries support national marketing campaign.

An article I wrote critiquing portions of the 2008 OCLC study appears in the current issue of Public Library Quarterly (Volume 28 Number 3 / July- September 2009).

In the article I argue that, as consumers of library research, we need to be research literate. I hadn't thought in terms of that term before (so to speak). And I don't actually use it in the article. But, the idea is that we are disciplined in examining research findings in order to determine whether the conclusions drawn are understandable, justifiable, and relevant. You can read more about this topic in my library performance assessment blog.

IMLS Initiative on 21st Century Skills for Citizens

Includes Museum and Library
Self-Assessment Tool

The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) has announced an initiative to reorient museums and libraries towards programming designed to enhance the "21st century skills" that IMLS believes American citizens need. (I particularly like the Darwinian life and career skill, flexibility and adaptability!)

IMLS has a 21st century skills website where libraries and museums can access a full report along with a self-assessment questionnaire. I comment on some methodologically interesting aspects of this instrument in my library performance assessment blog.

A more substantial topic that will need addressed is how assessment methods would need to be expanded to accommodate this new (shall we say added?) mission for libraries and museums.

IMLS Releases Public Libraries 2007 Report

Last month the Institute of Museum and Library Services released Public Libraries Survey: Fiscal Year 2007 , the report that accompanies survey data from the Institute's annual census of U.S. public libraries. The document summarizes 2007 library statistics from 50 states, the District of Columbia, and outlying territories. It contains dozens of cross-tablulation tables of library expenditures, staffing, collection, and services data by state, service area population, and other variables.

The introduction of the report includes 7 charts depicting 10-year trends for key library statistical measures. Since trend data are so informative, I have prepared a set of 40 additional charts depicting national-level trends of several key library measures from 2000 to 2007. I follow IMLS's lead of adjusting expenditures-related data for inflation. Original, unadjusted expenditure data are also charted for comparison purposes. For example, see these charts.

It's Our Cultural Heritage, Stupid! *

Cutbacks Threaten Ohio Libraries and Arts

I had intended this post to be about the 2007 IMLS public library survey report due out this month. But reality has a way of intervening. Ohio's governor has proposed a 30% cut to library funding and a 52% cut to arts funding, causing the state's library and arts communities to mobilize.

I had just written a lofty blog entry about cultural institutions' non-economic benefits being the most crucial ones. But, political debate is hardly a thoughtful process. Injecting more concrete arguments into the dialog (like libraries providing important services to the unemployed) seems wisest. Still, in times of crisis it is especially important that our communities sustain art, poetry, theater, music, dance, literature, and culture. These cultural assets inspire and enhance our lives. Someday, our society may come to realize that all of our ills cannot be cured by going shopping.

*   No, this isn't directed at Governor Strickland. The phrase is a take-off of the motto of the 1992 Democratic presidential campaign, which has recently resurfaced!

IMLS Releases 2007 Public Library Data Files

Incorporates New GIS Data

Wow! Faster than a speeding bullet! Able to leap mounds of red-tape in a single bound! The Institute of Museum & Library Services (IMLS) has released the 2007 public library public use data files!

This is the first year the the federal public library data contain geographical information system (GIS) fields (longitude, latitude) as well as census tract, census block, and U.S. Congressional District information.

The IMLS public library data files are the most comprehensive collection of U.S. public library statistics available. Having them published on this new speedier timeline is quite an advantage.

The FY 2007 Public Library Survey report will be released by IMLS in June 2009.

New IFLA Book Formalizes 21st Century Library Statistics Standards

Includes my article on public library ratings

The International Federation of Library Associations and Institutions (IFLA) has published standards for international library statistics in proceedings from its 2008 conference Library Statistics for the 21st Century World. The book (ISBN 978-3-598-22043-2) was edited by Michael Heaney of Oxford University Library Services. It describes pilot testing and early uses of the new collection of statistical indicators. The model was developed over the past several years via a joint project of IFLA, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). For more history on this project visit the IFLA Statistics and Evaluation Section.

The book contains articles by presenters at the conference, including mine (see Aug. 26, 2008 post).

Our Session @ PLA Spring Symposium 2009

The Statistics of Silk Purses and Sows Ears

Larry White, Joe Matthews, and I presented a day and a half workshop about public library statistics and assessment at the PLA Spring Syposium April 2-4 in Nashville TN. We covered approaches to evaluation, making peer comparisons, unintended consequences of assessment, outcome evaluation, activity-based costing, cost-benefit analysis, and a range of other topics. Joe covered the topic of measuring customer satisfaction, and his comments inspired this post in my weblog.

Keith Curry Lance was originally going to co-present with me on the LJ Index, but ended up with a scheduling conflict.

American Libraries editor not thrilled with the LJ Index

AL editor Leonard Kniffel believes that the LJ Index of Public Library Service is "too much too late." Kniffel, long-time publisher of HAPLR ratings, defends HAPLR against criticism from LJ editor-in-chief Francine Fialkoff.

Maybe it is ALA's organizational culture that leads Kniffel to view new measures in public library asessessment as a territorial issue. Annual press inquiries about HAPLR and former LJ editor-in-chief John Berry's envy are the topics most salient to Kniffel. Issues like measurement soundness and unintended consequences of issuing ratings didn't get much play in his retrospective account.

Image at left is from...

LJ Index of Public Library Service Debuts

Library Journal released the first annual edition of the LJ Index of Public Library Service. The index, designed for the Journal by Keith Curry Lance and me, is based on IMLS 2006 public library data.

Keith, the LJ editors, and I all agreed that the, let's say, "vicissitudes" of IMLS data make any ratings system based on them fairly imprecise. (Keith expresses this with some metaphor or other in the article--something to do with balogna and lasers?) That's why we use the 5-star, 4-star, 3-star rating approach for the LJ Index.

All public library ratings are really contests with specific and arbitrary (contest) rules about things like which statistical indicators to include, which to emphasize more or less, how to calculate and calibrate scores, how to deal with extreme or questionable data values, etc.

Here's another idea the LJ Index project team has embraced from the start: Ratings based on standard library statistics cannot possibly measure library greatness, goodness, excellence, quality, or value. The title of the LJ ratings say exactly what they aim to measure: SERVICE DELIVERY!

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