FY 2001 StLA Survey: New and revised questions (including network performance measures) - Rationale/Overview Overview:
According to the latest State Library Agency Survey, over $25 million, nearly 10 percent of total SLA operating expenditures, was spent on licensing of statewide databases in FY99. This amount has undoubtedly since grown. The use that state residents make of these databases is still not nationally reported. In order to collect data on electronic use comparable to the expenditure data currently gathered, the State Library Agency Survey Steering Committee at its April meeting recommended the addition to the present survey of several data elements measuring electronic use. Those recommendations are attached.

The proposed items and definitions are taken from or are based on electronic use measures developed by Dr. John Carlo Bertot and Dr. Charles R. McClure under a project supported by the IMLS and participant state library agencies. The State Library Agency Survey Steering Committee and the COSLA Research & Statistics Committee were briefed on this work as it progressed. Work began with the International Coalition of Library Consortia (ICOLC) electronic use measurement guidelines developed in 1997. After numerous focus groups and individual conversations with librarians, Bertot and McClure adapted the ICOLC guidelines to meet the needs of public library service providers. In addition, they worked closely with vendors to understand the use measures being collected and how the measures were being reported to and used by customers. The resulting detailed guidelines and definitions are contained in their publication Statistics and Performance Measures for Public Library Networked Services (2001).

In making these recommendations, the committee took into consideration several factors. The most significant is the uncertainty of additional funds from the federal government for specialized surveys of libraries to gather this information. What is certain is the funding for the uniform national collection of data on state library agencies. As to the data collection burden placed on state library agencies, the committee recognizes that the major database vendors are able and willing to provide electronic use information. And, that these vendors have agreed on the Bertot-McClure definitions. These are the same definitions being presented here. It is further recognized that because of current local practices, especially network infrastructure design and administration, it will not be possible for all states to report all electronic use data requested. Even though the reporting may be incomplete, applying consistent national definitions should encourage states to begin requesting this data from vendors.

Consideration was also given to the extent to which these new data elements can be integrated with other collected data. To this end the steering committee is reconsidering its approach to collecting descriptive data on electronic services offered by state library agencies. A report on this issue, with recommendations, should be available after the next committee meeting. Lastly, the committee feels that the extent to which this survey assists in policy formulation, analysis, and decision-making is dependent upon the completeness of its description of StLA activities. A description of StLA activities relating to electronic services use is currently not available. The State Library Agency Survey is the only likely source of such information in the future.