The LibEcon project, a research study
into international library economics and funded by the European
Commission within the Telematics Applications Programme, uses
internet communications to develop a continuously updated database
of library activities and associated costs in the context of their
national economies. As gathering consistent information about
the part played by libraries in developing the information resources
within Europe is a difficult process, the project is examining the
feasibility of assembling such information via electronic means. The
LibEcon website has been established to test and then generate an
automatic means of collecting data. Data collected in past
surveys has been added to the database, and visitors to this site
can review past trends as well as compare national statistics. An
information analysis service can be provided to any country that can
send LibEcon raw data in a standard format. LibEcon data is
collected through a network of voluntary country coordinators who
liaise with LibEcon staff and collate and validate nationally
published data. LibEcon analyses the returns and answer any
questions arising from it.
Country
Coordinators needed
In order to
expand the service to more countries, LibEcon is looking for
country coordinators. ACCESS readers who are
interested should contact David Fuegi at david.fuegi@mdrpartners.com
. LibEcon
appreciates that most countries cannot supply data for all
library sectors, so the minimum requirement is data for one
sector for a recent year. Currently, country coordinators in
the Asia-Pacific region come from Korea, Japan, Australia and
New
Zealand.
Updates of Data on the
web
The statistical database held on the
website containing historic data for countries included in
previous LibEcon surveys, shows 5 years worth of data. Results
can be displayed in both a graphical and tabular format. In
addition, estimates are included to make up for missing
elements so that informed judgements can be made about the
probable totals. The historic coverage relates to the five
sectors of libraries which are: National; Public; Higher
Education; School and Special Libraries.
The
main issues addressed by LibEcon include:
Improving
the quality of implementation of standardised methods in
the collection and publication of data relating to
library economics and statistics for EU and EFTA
countries and CEE countries with or approaching an
association agreement with the EU.
Improving
dissemination and access to such data and ensure that it
can be validly used for benchmarking and comparison by
policy makers and practitioners.
Reaching
agreement between the countries concerned regarding key
performance indicators to be used for internal and
external benchmarking.
To find out more about LibEcon,
visit its newly revamped website.
Country
Coordinators needed
