From: "Loar, Ashley" <[log in to unmask]>
Date: Thu, 21 Jun 2012 16:47:19 +0000

**Apologies for cross posting**

DEMONSTRATING library Value Remains elusive goal

LISU report commissioned by SAGE uncovers examples of best practice
from international library community

Providing evidence of value remains an elusive goal for academic
libraries across geographic borders, according to a new report
published today.  The findings are the results of a six-month research
project commissioned by SAGE, which sets out recommendations for
academic libraries to enhance their working relationship with academic
teaching and research staff. ‘Working together: evolving value for
academic libraries’ was undertaken by LISU, a national research and
information centre based in the Department of Information Science at
Loughborough University (UK).

You can get a hard copy version of the report and hear more about it
at ALA this weekend.

Feel free to attend SAGE’s in-booth (#1476) reception discussing the
results on Saturday and Sunday from 11:00 to 11:30. We hope to see you
there!

Not going to ALA?

Check out the results here: http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/report/

Findings from three geographic areas, the United States, United
Kingdom and Scandinavia, indicated that there is no systematic
evidence of the value of academic libraries for teaching and research
staff. Despite this, librarians noted that they receive positive
feedback about the support the library provides, but there is a
perception that academic staff do not really know how to use all that
the library can offer.

The findings are based on eight case studies: in the USA at Purdue
University; Towson University; University of Utah; and Wake Forest
University; in the UK at  the University of Nottingham and University
of Sussex; and in Scandinavia at Karolinska Institutet, Sweden and;
Oslo and Akerhus University College, Norway. Additionally a survey was
undertaken by 630 librarians in the same regions to compare findings.

Outlined in the report are three key issues identified by librarians
as being central to working together with faculty. These are: value
measurement and perception; working together with researchers and
teachers; and raising awareness about library products and services.
The report sets out examples of best practice and makes a series of
recommendations for libraries and university management to improve the
perceived value of academic libraries with teaching and research
staff.

The full report can be accessed here: http://libraryvalue.wordpress.com/report/