Library priorities report

OCLC Snapshots of Issues and Priorities in US, UK, Dutch and German Libraries

OCLC conducted a member survey to understand librarians’ top priorities, current key initiatives, thoughts on service and top methods for keeping current on happenings in the library field.

Libraries in the U.S.: A Snapshot of Priorities & Perspectives

These reports detail findings from a study OCLC conducted  with libraries in mid-2011 to learn about their priorities, initiatives,  thoughts on the future of their service points and the sources they use to keep  up with developments in the library field. See other reports in the Priorities & Perspectives  series for libraries in Germany | Netherlands | UK. Select Key Findings for US Academic Libraries Most academic library staff: Consider licensed e-collections to be a top  priority Are focusing on e-books, other e-resources and discovery tools as top current initiatives Believe their current library location structure will be the same in five years Rely mostly on listservs and email to stay current—a few use social media Nearly 2,000 academic library staff including directors, managers and librarians participated in the study. Select Key Findings for US Community College Libraries Most community college library staff: Consider licensed e-collections and e-books to be their top priority and current initiative Believe their current library location structure will be the same in five years Rely mostly on listservs and email to stay current—a few use social media. Community college library staff are less likely than other academic library and public library staff to expect that a national digital library will exist in the next five years. Community college libraries are distinctively putting more focus on outreach and library instruction and their back-end office technology compared to other academic libraries. Nearly 200 community college library staff including directors, managers and librarians participated in the study. Select Key Findings for US Public Libraries Most public library staff: Are focusing their priorities on Internet access, demonstrating value to funders and delivering e-content Are concentrating on e-books as their top current initiative Rely mostly on listservs and email to stay current—while just a few use social media Opinions are split on the make-up of service points in the future The top priority for public library directors is demonstrating the library’s value to funders Nearly 1300 public library staff including directors, managers and librarians participated in the study.

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in US Public Libraries (4 Page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/us-libraries/214758usb-A-Snapshot-of-Priorities-and-Perspectives.pdf

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in US Academic Libraries (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/us-libraries/214758usb-a-A-Snapshot-of-Priorities-and-Perspectives.pdf

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in US Community College Libraries (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/us-libraries/214758usb-c-A-Snapshot-of-Priorities-and-Perspectives.pdf

Select Key Findings for UK Academic Libraries

Most UK academic library staff:

• Consider delivering e-books and other e-resources to be their top priority
• Anticipate the top reason faculty and students are using their library will shift in five years
• Rely on listservs to keep informed about library trends.

Nearly 120 UK academic library staff including directors, managers and librarians participated in the study.

Select Key Findings for UK Public Libraries

Most UK public library staff:

• Consider demonstrating the value of their library to funders to be their top priority
• Anticipate the top reason users are using their library will change in five years
• Rely on discussions with their colleagues to keep informed about library trends.

120 UK public library staff including directors, managers and librarians participated in the study.

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in UK Public Libraries (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/uk-libraries/214758ukb-B-Member-Communication-Survey-Report-UK-public-web.pdf

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in UK Academic Libraries (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/uk-libraries/214758ukb-A-Member-Communication-Survey-Report-UK-academic.pdf

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in Libraries in Germany (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/de-libraries/214758usb-Member-Communication-Survey-Report-Deutschland.pdf

A Snapshot of Priorities and Perspectives in Libraries in The Netherlands (4 page PDF)

http://www.oclc.org/reports/nl-libraries/214758usb-Member-Communication-Survey-Report-Nederland.pdf