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Qualitative and quantitative efficacy measurement of TERI library and information centre resources: A case study

Deepa N. (Department of Knowledge Management, TERI, New Delhi, India)
P.K. Bhattacharya (Department of Knowledge Management, TERI, New Delhi, India)
Shantanu Ganguly (Department of Knowledge Management, TERI, New Delhi, India)
Anandajit Goswami (TOHRI OPC Private Limited, Kolkata, India)

Library Management

ISSN: 0143-5124

Article publication date: 21 August 2018

Issue publication date: 5 March 2019

394

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to evaluate print and electronic resources of TERI’s Library and Information Centre (LIC) with an aim to maximize the net marginal benefits and minimize net marginal costs, without compromising the quality of the library resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The parameters considered for analyzing the value of the library resources for this exercise were resource access costs, strategic value of the resource based on subject area coverage, frequency of use, citations, direct and indirect benefits to users. The data regarding these parameters were provided from wide range of sources (both tangible and intangible), to come out with the qualitative and quantitative assessment through an optimization and simulation based model.

Findings

Out of the total holdings in TERI LIC that were analyzed, 85 percent of book collections and 63.5 percent of journals were found to be useful for the researchers. The least-used books and journals were identified for weeding to optimize the value of library for users and make space for new and topical library collections.

Research limitations/implications

A sample of data sources out of the total library collections was defined for the evaluation.

Practical implications

The paper demonstrates the value of library resources that is of critical importance to libraries for an effective and efficient delivery of services for generating future knowledge. Evaluating the value of libraries resources has implications both for librarians as well as library users.

Originality/value

The evaluation exercise established the efficacy of the TERI library holdings for research and academic purposes in the domain of sustainable development. The library collection was found to be cost effective and beneficial to meet the future demand from the user community.

Keywords

Citation

N., D., Bhattacharya, P.K., Ganguly, S. and Goswami, A. (2019), "Qualitative and quantitative efficacy measurement of TERI library and information centre resources: A case study", Library Management, Vol. 40 No. 3/4, pp. 191-202. https://doi.org/10.1108/LM-08-2017-0071

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2018, Emerald Publishing Limited

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