Telling Their Story with Data: What Academic Research Libraries Share on Their Websites

Terrill, Lori J.

doi:10.1080/19322909.2018.1514286

Cited by 2 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 6 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…While a significant portion of libraries collect gate count data and report it in aggregate to stakeholders, beyond these annual reporting obligations, the data are either not widely reported on library websites, not used, or the exact nature of the data usage is unknown (Driscoll & Mott, 2008;Martell, 2007;Terrill, 2018). The data may otherwise remain entirely unused or be reserved for internal operational decisions only, though one study examining the data used and impetuses for changing operating hours and staff scheduling at medium-sized college libraries found that a low percentage of libraries used gate count data to inform their staffing decisions (Brunsting, 2008).…”

Section: Variations In Physical Use Of the Librarymentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of the Effect of Saturday Home Football Games on Physical Use of University Libraries

Sewell¹

2021

EBLIP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Objective – Library science literature lacks studies on the effect of external events on the physical use of libraries, leaving a gap in understanding of would-be library patrons’ time use choices when faced with the option of using the library or attending time-bound, external events. Within academic libraries in about 900 colleges and universities in the US, weekend time use may be affected by football games. This study sought to elucidate the effect of external events on physical use of libraries by examining the effect of Saturday home football games on the physical use of the libraries in a large, academic institution. Methods – This study used a retrospective, observational study design. Gate count data for all Saturdays during the fall semesters of 2013-2018 were collected for the two primary libraries at East Carolina University (main campus’ Academic Library Services [ALS] and Laupus, a health sciences campus library), along with data on the occurrence of home football games. The relationship between gate counts and the occurrence of home football games was assessed using an independent samples t-test. Results – Saturday home football games decreased the gate count at both ALS and Laupus. For ALS, the mean physical use of the library decreased by one third (34.4%) on Saturdays with a home game. For Laupus, physical use of the library decreased by almost a quarter (22%) on Saturdays with a home game. Conclusion – Saturday home football games alter the physical use of academic libraries, decreasing the number of patrons entering the doors. Libraries may be able to adjust staffing based on reduced use of library facilities during these events.

show abstract

Section: Variations In Physical Use Of the Librarymentioning

confidence: 99%

An Analysis of the Effect of Saturday Home Football Games on Physical Use of University Libraries

Sewell¹

2021

EBLIP

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Libraries are increasingly trying to communicate the library's contributions and telling the library stories using a variety of approaches. These approaches range from data visualization (Datig and Whiting, 2018; Terrill, 2018) to the use of advocates and media professionals (Holt, 2000; Lo, 2007). Farkas et al (2015) argue that “[g]athering and analyzing data to tell the library's story as well as identify areas for improvement require commitment, time, effort, and resources”, and analyze the factors that facilitate the development of a culture of assessment.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Library stories: a systematic review of narrative aspects within and around libraries

Frandsen

Sørensen

Fladmose

2021

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

PurposeLibraries are increasingly trying to communicate the library's contributions and telling the library stories. Stories can be a component of impact assessment and thus add nuance to an assessment. Evaluations of libraries can include collecting and presenting stories of change, which can serve as evidence in impact assessments. The narrative field allows for many different approaches to a narrative perspective in the study of libraries, but the existing literature provides little overview of these studies. The purpose of this study is to introduce the narrative field and present a systematic review of the existing studies of libraries that use narrative approaches.Design/methodology/approachThe methods in this study comprise of a systematic review of publications reporting narrative approaches to studying libraries. To retrieve the relevant studies, Library and Information Science Abstracts, Scopus, Web of Science and Proquest Dissertation were searched. Furthermore, the authors examined reference lists and performed citation searches. Study selection was performed by two reviewers independently. Using designed templates, data from the included studies were extracted by one author and confirmed by another.FindingsThe database searches retrieved 2,096 records across the four databases which were screened in two steps, resulting in 35 included studies. The authors identify studies that introduce narrative enquiries in library studies as well as studies using narrative approaches to the study of libraries.Originality/valueExploring narratives and stories for understanding and evaluating the library's worth is a promising field. More work is needed, though, to develop theoretical and methodological frameworks. Several of the included studies can serve as examples of the potential of a narrative perspective in the study of libraries.

show abstract

Telling Their Story with Data: What Academic Research Libraries Share on Their Websites

Cited by 2 publications

References 6 publications

An Analysis of the Effect of Saturday Home Football Games on Physical Use of University Libraries

An Analysis of the Effect of Saturday Home Football Games on Physical Use of University Libraries

Library stories: a systematic review of narrative aspects within and around libraries

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About