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Insights about Libraries' Value Presented to International Audience

September 1, 2011

[caption id='attachment_386' align='alignright' width='300' caption='Nitecki and Abels prepare for their presentation using the white board wall in Nitecki's Office.'][/caption] Presenting results of research they conducted this year about factors which faculty perceive contribute to the Libraries' value, Eileen G. Abels, Associate Dean of the iSchool, and Danuta A. Nitecki, Dean of Libraries attended the 9th Northumbria Conference on Performance Measurement in Libraries and Information Services, held in York, UK August 22-25th. Their study involved interviews of ten faculty members, which began asking for an overall rating of the Libraries' value, and then solicited reasons why the faculty assigned the particular value rating. Although services offered by library staff were evaluated positively, the initial findings attribute library collections, or access to them as well as electronic resources, as critical to perceiving a library as contributing maximum value. A focus group interview confirmed that faculty value the Libraries' impact to increase faculty productivity, expand student learning skills, do one's job (e.g., teaching or research), save faculty money (i.e., no need to purchase material), and indulge intellectual curiosity; also mentioned as important in valuing the Libraries is its contributions to avoiding frustration, meeting accreditation standards, and changing the university. Over 150 librarians and information professionals from around the world attended the conference which included 70 keynote and plenary talks. A copy of the conference abstracts will be added to the Drexel University Libraries collection and published proceedings will be issued in coming months. Article by: Danuta A. Nitecki & Eileen Abels