Comments on: two links on the economics of libraries http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/ putting the rarin back in librarian since 1999 Sat, 11 Feb 2012 18:14:14 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0 By: Jamie http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-101139 Jamie Thu, 19 Jul 2007 17:52:10 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/#comment-101139 With regards to 'If Libraries had Shareholders' I somewhat question the statistics. Both academic libraries that I have worked at have seen a decrease in circulation, though not as drastic as this chart shows. At both library systems the actual foot traffic has remained steady if not increased. I have often felt circ. stats give only a partial picture. Back in my day, there was no computer lab or learning commons or wifi in my university library. The photocopy charges at my current library are actually 2 cents cheaper today than when I did my BA over 20 years ago. To write my paper I took out as much material as possible and went home and typed up the paper. Now the library is much more of a destination than it ever was (agreeing somewhat with the notion of a student community centre). To get a proper view of usage, things like counting book and journal left on reshelving trucks has to be factored in as well. Of course that does not address the whole drop in ref questions... With regards to ‘If Libraries had Shareholders’ I somewhat question the statistics. Both academic libraries that I have worked at have seen a decrease in circulation, though not as drastic as this chart shows. At both library systems the actual foot traffic has remained steady if not increased.

I have often felt circ. stats give only a partial picture. Back in my day, there was no computer lab or learning commons or wifi in my university library. The photocopy charges at my current library are actually 2 cents cheaper today than when I did my BA over 20 years ago. To write my paper I took out as much material as possible and went home and typed up the paper. Now the library is much more of a destination than it ever was (agreeing somewhat with the notion of a student community centre). To get a proper view of usage, things like counting book and journal left on reshelving trucks has to be factored in as well.

Of course that does not address the whole drop in ref questions…

]]> By: LibrarySupportStaff.Org » Something to think about http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-101062 LibrarySupportStaff.Org » Something to think about Thu, 19 Jul 2007 03:39:19 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/#comment-101062 [...] from Librarian.net   [...] [...] from Librarian.net   [...]

]]> By: Blog comments as virtual focus groups « Library Nation http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/comment-page-1/#comment-101054 Blog comments as virtual focus groups « Library Nation Thu, 19 Jul 2007 02:08:30 +0000 http://www.librarian.net/stax/2089/two-links-on-the-economics-of-libraries/#comment-101054 [...] Blog comments as virtual focus groups 18 07 2007 It’s incredibly frustrating to read comments by non-library users on what they think of libraries, especially compared to bookstores. Take the following, posted by scunning (#14) on the Freakonomic’s blog post, If Public Libraries Didn’t Exist, Could You Start One Today?: (via) Even if one doesn’t read an entire novel at the bookstore, they still replicate many of the same functions of the library, like house a diverse inventory of books, allow browsing by consumers in a comfortable atmosphere, and have reading programs for children…booksellers are doing a lot - perhaps even more - for encouraging reading in the US than public libraries. The selection at your average B&N swamps the average public library, and will continue to do so as B&N and other bigbox booksellers continue to expand into the suburbs, inner cities, and small towns. [...] [...] Blog comments as virtual focus groups 18 07 2007 It’s incredibly frustrating to read comments by non-library users on what they think of libraries, especially compared to bookstores. Take the following, posted by scunning (#14) on the Freakonomic’s blog post, If Public Libraries Didn’t Exist, Could You Start One Today?: (via) Even if one doesn’t read an entire novel at the bookstore, they still replicate many of the same functions of the library, like house a diverse inventory of books, allow browsing by consumers in a comfortable atmosphere, and have reading programs for children…booksellers are doing a lot – perhaps even more – for encouraging reading in the US than public libraries. The selection at your average B&N swamps the average public library, and will continue to do so as B&N and other bigbox booksellers continue to expand into the suburbs, inner cities, and small towns. [...]

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