U.S.-based marketing agency Boston Digital recently reported on how American hospitals are competing to become consumers’ go-to for digital health information. “When analyzing the digital performance of America’s top 20 hospitals, it’s clear that the healthcare providers who offer their online users a comprehensive, original library of health topics like diseases and conditions are winning Read More…
Tag: United States
Study: U.S. Public Libraries Improve Student Achievement
The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago recently published a working paper to explore the effects of public library use. “The Returns to Public Library Investment” working paper studies “how capital investment in public libraries affects library operations, patron usage, and local communities, with a focus on student achievement.” Findings The study first establishes the link Read More…
UC’s Deal with Elsevier is a Victory for Open Access
Fantastic news from the world of scholarly publishing! After over two years of negotiations following a broken business relationship, the University of California (UC) and Elsevier have created a transformative agreement that represents a landmark victory for open access publishing. The four-year agreement goes into effect on April 1, 2021 and restores UC access to Read More…
Pew Research: Social Media Use in 2018
On March 1, Pew Research released its latest survey of U.S. adults and how they use social media. A few highlights: Facebook and YouTube dominate this landscape, as notable majorities of U.S. adults use each of these sites. 73% of adults use YouTube, and 68% of adults use Facebook. Younger adults, ages 18-24, use Snapchat Read More…
Brookings: How public libraries help build healthy communities
This article, published by Brookings, cites their own recent research, and that from Pew, identifying the public library as an emerging, important third place that supports community building. Third places are defined as a place that is neither someone’s home or workplace, but a third, informal space where “both random and intentional in-person relationships are made.” The Read More…
Measuring the Value of Academic Libraries, Beyond Books
Ithaka S+R and OCLC Research are launching a research project to examine how value academic libraries, not in terms of collections, but in terms of service. The project, named “University Futures; Library Futures”, will evaluate the higher education landscape to determine how academic libraries are differentiating themselves and creating value for their institutions. As reported in a Read More…
Pew: The public is interested in new services and thinks libraries are important to communities
American libraries are buffeted by cross currents. Citizens believe that libraries are important community institutions and profess interest in libraries offering a range of new program possibilities. Yet, even as the public expresses interest in additional library services, there are signs that the share of Americans visiting libraries has edged downward over the past three Read More…
Lib-Value: Values, Outcomes, and Return on Investment of Academic Libraries, Phase III: ROI of the Syracuse University Library
by Bruce Kingma and Kathleen McClure This study measures the return on investment (ROI) of the Syracuse University library. Faculty and students at Syracuse University were surveyed using contingent valuation methodology to measure their willingness to pay in time and money for the services of the academic library. Their travel time and use of the online library Read More…
NISO Alternative Assessment Metrics (Altmetrics) Project
In June 2013, the Alfred P. Sloan Foundation awarded NISO a grant to undertake a two-phase initiative to explore, identify, and advance standards and/or best practices related to a new suite of potential metrics in the community. This initiative was a direct outgrowth of a breakout discussion group during the altmetrics 12 meeting in Chicago, IL. This project Read More…
The Next Chapter for Urban Libraries is Here
by Amanda Erickson NextCity.org – August 4, 2014 Judge Nelson R. Wolff has been an avid reader for more than seven decades. He’s written four memoirs; his home library boasts an extensive collection of rare books. So he’s an unlikely leader of a movement that renounces paper and ink. But in Bexar County, Texas, Wolff Read More…