How do we decide what is valuable in library collections and libraries more generally? Librarians are increasingly seeking to make judgments and decisions based on evidence and numbers, but often the ways we review or report are arbitrary, inconsistent, or detached from context.
This session will use our library’s ongoing transition to using COUNTER 5 usage data as case study that allows us to think more broadly about how we use data. With the adoption of the COUNTER 5 Code of Practice and the availability of more nuanced data, our library has begun to reconsider how we collect and interpret usage data to make decisions.
Instead of walking participants through the new features of reports, we’ll share some of the questions we ask when we assess the value of a resource in order to make a renewal decision. Then we’ll discuss how we’re using new data to answer these questions better. Our consideration of “value” will go beyond the monetary price or cost-per-use of resources to consider factors like the value of the resource to users, the role the resource plays in the collection, and whether the resource is delivered and licensed in a way that aligns with the professional values of librarianship.
The majority of the session will be focused on small group discussions and activities aimed at having participants consider what questions they have about library users and how they can use data to find answers. The discussions will start from a collections point of view, examining questions about how we determine the value of the resources we provide. From there, we will broaden the conversations, thinking about how we might better use data to determine the value of library services and programs.
Learning Outcomes:- Attendees will be able to relate the value of usage data to the broader concepts of “value” and “values” in libraries.
- Attendees will be able to integrate different perspectives to critically assess how they interpret and make decisions based upon data at their institutions.
