Questions about UK Libraries - how do they measure up with us?

I just finished a LibQUAL+ project comparing the Georgia Consortium libraries with other systems: OhioLINK, Network of Alabama Academic Libraries (NAAL), and the Wisconsin System. When looking undergraduates the numbers are pretty similar. There were some small differences here and there, but overall very marginal. However, the thing that was shocking was when I compared the US libraries with SCONUL, which is sort of like the ACRL of the UK.

I can’t post any numbers or graphics because ARL is touchy about that, but here is the gist.

The 2006 SCONUL results featured 20 academic libraries, including biggies like Cambridge and Leeds, and over 11,000 undergraduate responses.

Compared with the US they claim to use their libraries more often. When asked about using resources in the library, 86% indicate daily or weekly use, while the US is around 50%. When asked about using library web resources they were at 77% daily/weekly, while US was between 40-50%. So they use their libraries more frequently, but is that because of study halls or something? (I can’t think of UK libraries beyond Harry Potter, sorry.)

So far so good, I was hoping to use SCONUL has a benchmark of excellence—something for us to strive toward, but… that’s not the case. When you look at collections there is considerable difference between the level of satisfaction of US and UK libraries. With printed materials and journals the US consortiums all had a moderate level of satisfaction—not very high, but not too low either. The UK was just barely adequate, barely.

The physical space results are similar too. Looking at quiet space as well as group space, the US consortiums were consistently solid, whereas the UK undergraduates were much less satisfied. “Inspiring” space was also solid within the US, but was a negative in the UK.

How can this be? I’ve always assumed their libraries were superior to ours, at least in architecture and collections. Do they have closed stacks? Do they enforce the shhhh rule? Have they jumped on the café trend? Do they have as many databases and e-journal subscriptions as us? What ILL like? Just about everyone is in the library weekly, so what’s wrong? Why go if they don’t like it? Is it forced upon them?  Are the UK libraries too high-brow and unresponsive to the shift in patron perceptions?

When comparing public service, overall they did much better than with space and collections, but they are still a noticeably lower than the US groups.

I looked at a few of their websites and the vibe I got was one of tradition and convention. Cambridge’s strategic plan emphasizes remaining a world-class library which they seem to define by collections. Buried in the middle is “improve understanding of the needs of the user community” so they are at least recognizing patron perceptions. On the Glasgow University Library site they state: as a result of staffing shortages the Reading Room will close at 18.30 (Monday-Thursday only) from Monday 8 January until further notice-- that doesn’t seem too good.

And the University of Westminster as some interesting “code of behaviours” including: headphones are allowed in some libraries (Not all?) but there must be no leakage of sounds, quiet is to be observed in the library at all times, readers may normally borrow up to 15 items at a time (just 15?), there is a period of grace of ONE DAY ONLY during which you may return or renew overdue items without penalty and after you return overdue loans you will not be able to borrow or renew or request other items for the same number of days that your loans were overdue. For example, if you return a book five days late you won't be able to borrow, request or renew anything for the next five days. Harsh!

I guess I can understand why the undergraduates might be dissatisfied with their libraries. If anyone has experience or insight with UK libraries I would like to know more. Their results are fascinating to me. Different cultures.

Comments

[nicomo]

I'm not a librarian in the UK, but one hypothesis might be that there's something here that doesn't have anything to do with the libraries themselves. Such as: students don't have enough places elsewhere on campus where they can settle to work, meet, etc.
In Europe campuses tend to be less comfortable, smaller, etc. In France, dorms are a disgrace and students often choose to rent a room in town, away from campus. Libraries could benefit from this: people come because there's no other building to go to except for classes.
So it could be that they use the building a lot, even so their degree of satisfaction with the collections or the services is not that good.

[Suzanne]

I am a librarian in the UK. I work in a further education/community college library which is very well-used by students requiring PC access. In fact, that's probably the main reason why our library is well-used, in spite of our efforts to promote everything else we have to offer.

I agree with nicomo's comment above - our students really don't have many places to go. Plus, they are a slightly different demographic than you would find in higher education - our students start at age 14 right up to silver surfer age, so it's nigh on impossible to try to get people to "shh". Hence, we don't. Our students tend not to be using the library for academic research - they want to check sports websites or myspace or email, and as much as we try to change this, we also have to accept that without the PC access, we'd be a much less popular college resource. The truth is that we wouldn't survive for long if we attempted to enforce draconian stereotypes, and our library works (in terms of good borrowing and door stats and positive feedback) because of our inclusive focus.

I'd say that Cambridge and Glasgow, as long-established and traditional institutions, are more likely to have a serious academic atmosphere in their libraries - it's what many students might want. On the other hand, universities like Glasgow Caledonian, and the Glasgow School of Art have fantastic library resources and a very contemporary approach to resource provision.

I suppose if you're surveying students about library provision, they're bound to say that they want more. More spaces for socialising, more PCs, more DVDs. And so it goes. My own library conducts regular user surveys and encourages feedback, particularly because we're involved in a new build project and will have the opportunity to fix some of the problems that students are currently unhappy with. Many UK institutions are struggling in old buildings that may have been fit for purpose 40 years ago, but have been unable to keep up as time goes on. We are also in a precarious position in some cases, when management teams are looking for ways of cutting their budgets.

Incidentally, yes we do have e-resources :) The universities that I attended had excellent provision in this area. It's a question of how well-used these facilities are though, for many library managers trying to stretch their budgets as far as they can. We spend a lot on e-resources and journals, and promote them endlessly, but unfortunately this doesn't always lead to increased interest from students, and sometimes you have to make hard decisions about spending money on something that will actually be used.

[Alane]

Brian, if you look at the data in our Perceptions report, you will see that the respondents from the UK pretty consistently are less satisfied with their libraries and their collections. Full report here: http://www.oclc.org/reports/2005perceptions.htm