New roles for an academic library: current measurements

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to detail the experience of a rising gate count at a departmental science and engineering library while many traditional user statistics show the now familiar decline.

Design/methodology/approach

Library and material‐use statistics gathered continuously over an eight‐year period along with data from a user exit survey describe the many changes in the patterns of use at academic libraries.

Findings

Data confirm that the in‐house use of print material will continue to decline in the face of rising gate counts. Discussion identifies probable causes of the continued rise in gate count.

Research limitations/implications

A description of the environment and causes for findings are available for future comparisons.

Practical implications

Anecdotal and informal observations were confirmed with the analysis of data. Taken together, these two forms of reporting support timely management decision making.

Originality/value

The paper provides baseline data for librarians evaluating “library as place” innovations.

Citation

Opperman, B.V. and Jamison, M. (2008), "New roles for an academic library: current measurements", New Library World, Vol. 109 No. 11/12, pp. 559-573. https://doi.org/10.1108/03074800810921368