UNESCO INSTITUTE for STATISTICS Initial results of the UIS/IFLA/ISO pilot survey on library...

UNESCOINSTITUTE for STATISTICS

Initial results of the UIS/IFLA/ISO pilot survey Initial results of the UIS/IFLA/ISO pilot survey on library statistics in Latin America and the on library statistics in Latin America and the

Caribbean countries Caribbean countries Montreal, August 2008Montreal, August 2008

Claude AkpabieProgramme Specialist

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Montreal

UNESCO Institute for Statistics, Montreal, Canada

OutlineOutline

Introduction of UIS roleIntroduction of UIS role

Context and rationale of the pilot survey in Context and rationale of the pilot survey in the LACthe LAC

Overview on the survey resultsOverview on the survey results

Preliminary conclusionsPreliminary conclusions

Prospects: initial thoughts for partners Prospects: initial thoughts for partners considerationconsideration


The mandate of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)The mandate of the UNESCO Institute for Statistics (UIS)

The main UThe main United Nations entity nited Nations entity responsible for:responsible for:

Collecting Collecting cross-nationally comparablecross-nationally comparable statistics on statistics on ALLALL countries to monitor progress towards international goals countries to monitor progress towards international goals in Education, Science and technology, in Education, Science and technology, Culture and Culture and CommunicationCommunication;;

Developing appropriate methodologies for new indicators Developing appropriate methodologies for new indicators and improvement of existing indicators;and improvement of existing indicators;

BBuilding capacities of countries for data collection, use uilding capacities of countries for data collection, use and analysis through training and advisory services;and analysis through training and advisory services;

Dissemination of cross-national data, indicators and Dissemination of cross-national data, indicators and analytical reports to inform international policy analytical reports to inform international policy development and monitoring.development and monitoring.


Context and rationale of the pilot survey in the LACContext and rationale of the pilot survey in the LAC

LLibraries in global policy frameworks as key agents in the ibraries in global policy frameworks as key agents in the knowledge creation, dissemination/sharing/usage and knowledge creation, dissemination/sharing/usage and preservation chain and as promoters of information literacy and preservation chain and as promoters of information literacy and culture in general:culture in general: Public Library Manifesto (1994): public libraries as a living force for Public Library Manifesto (1994): public libraries as a living force for

education, culture and information, and for building peace and welfareeducation, culture and information, and for building peace and welfare

The School Library Manifesto (1999): school libraries and resource centres as The School Library Manifesto (1999): school libraries and resource centres as key enablers for education and lifelong learningkey enablers for education and lifelong learning

UNESCO/IFAP, EFA, UN/MDGs, WSIS goals…UNESCO/IFAP, EFA, UN/MDGs, WSIS goals…

Previous initiatives and lessons learntPrevious initiatives and lessons learnt More developed countries reflective returns while education and information More developed countries reflective returns while education and information

literacy gaps are rather acute or challenging in the developing worldliteracy gaps are rather acute or challenging in the developing world

Coverage issues (missing or unvailable data, incomplete sector coverage, Coverage issues (missing or unvailable data, incomplete sector coverage, etc)etc)

Comparability issues (national definitions not always ISO compliant)Comparability issues (national definitions not always ISO compliant)

Leading to weak data quality or policy irrelevant data due mainly to Leading to weak data quality or policy irrelevant data due mainly to fragmented national statistical infrastructurefragmented national statistical infrastructure

The choice for LAC countriesThe choice for LAC countries An opportunity to test the newly revised ISO 2789An opportunity to test the newly revised ISO 2789

A hope for an improved developing world status on libraries statistics culture A hope for an improved developing world status on libraries statistics culture which could trigger a potential resumption of UNESCO World Survey on which could trigger a potential resumption of UNESCO World Survey on LibrariesLibraries


Overview on the survey results: Overview on the survey results: response ratesresponse rates Overall response rate of 63% (26 out of 4) countries Overall response rate of 63% (26 out of 4) countries

surveyed (nil response from Bolivia)surveyed (nil response from Bolivia)

Few data on number of hiFew data on number of higher education institutions gher education institutions libraries (14 countries) compared to public libraries (25 libraries (14 countries) compared to public libraries (25 countries)countries)

Data largely unavailable on items such as: e-resources, Data largely unavailable on items such as: e-resources, visits, events, opening hours, full-time-equivalent of visits, events, opening hours, full-time-equivalent of employees and libraries expenditureemployees and libraries expenditure


Overview on the survey results: Overview on the survey results: response rates response rates (cont’d)(cont’d)

% of each indicator availability for all countries

0% 20% 40% 60% 80% 100% 120%

Number of public libraries

Average number of employees in public libraries

Average number of public libraries per 1000 inhabitants

Percentage of public libraries offering an internet access for users

Average number of public libraries per 1000 literate population

Average number of volumes in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants

Number of registered users per 1000 inhabitants in public libraries

Average number of loans per 1000 inhabitants in public libraries

Ratio of female to male employees in public libraries

Percentage of public libraries offering websites

Average number of employees in higher education institution libraries

Number of visits in public libraries per 1000 inhabitants

Average number of volumes in higher education institution library per 1000 students of higher education

Number of registered users in higher education libraries as a percentage of number of students

Average number of loans per student (higher education) in higher education institution libraries

Expenditure on literature and information per capita in public libraries (in PPPUS$)

Ratio of female to male employees in higher education institutions libraries

Expenditure on literature and information per student of higher education in higher education institutionlibraries (in Purchasing Power Parity US$)

Number of visits in higher education institution libraries per students of higher education

Average number of volumes in public libraries per 1000 literate inhabitants

Number of registered users per 1000 literate inhabitants in public libraries

Average number of loans per 1000 literate inhabitants in public libraries

Number of visits in public libraries per 1000 literate inhabitants


Overview on the survey results: Overview on the survey results: response rates response rates (cont’d)(cont’d)

% of indicators available by country

73%

64%

59%

55%

55%

50%

50%

50%

46%

46%

46%

41%

41%

41%

36%

36%

32%

23%

23%

18%

18%

18%

14%

14%

14%

38%

0% 10% 20% 30% 40% 50% 60% 70% 80%

Suriname

Trinidad and Tobago

Costa Rica

Bahamas

Saint Lucia

El Salvador

Guyana

Peru

Argentina

Chile

Venezuela

Jamaica

Netherlands Antilles

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Colombia

Mexico

Antigua and Barbuda

Saint Kitts and Nevis

Uruguay

Brazil

British Virgin Islands

Dominican Republic

Dominica

Honduras

Montserrat

Average


Overview on the survey results: major Overview on the survey results: major highlightshighlights Except Mexico, small islands countries tend to have relatively higher Except Mexico, small islands countries tend to have relatively higher

number libraries per every 100,000 people. Caution: effect of population number libraries per every 100,000 people. Caution: effect of population size and geographical spread of libraries locations???size and geographical spread of libraries locations???

Same indicatorSame indicator with potential ‘skilled readership” reflect higher with potential ‘skilled readership” reflect higher potential for users ‘access’potential for users ‘access’

0

5

10

15

20

25

30

35

Jam

aic

a

Sain

t V

incent

and t

he G

renadin

es

Sain

t Lucia

Baham

as

Mexic

o

Uru

guay

Dom

inic

an R

epublic

Colo

mbia

Peru

Guyana

Venezuela

Chile

Bra

zil

Trinid

ad a

nd T

obago

Hondura

s

Surinam

e

Costa

Ric

a

Antigua a

nd B

arb

uda

Neth

erlands A

ntilles

El S

alv

ador

Arg

entina 0%

5%

10%

15%

20%

25%

30%

35%

40%

45%

Average number of public libraries per 100,000 inhabitants Average number of public libraries per 100,000 literate population Population size


Overview on the survey results: major highlights Overview on the survey results: major highlights (cont’d)(cont’d) Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico seem Bahamas, Guyana, Trinidad and Tobago, and Mexico seem

to have higher number of volumes per 1000 inhabitants to have higher number of volumes per 1000 inhabitants or adult literatesor adult literates

All libraries in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and All libraries in Trinidad and Tobago, Venezuela and Antigua and Barbuda offer internet access to usersAntigua and Barbuda offer internet access to users

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1000

Ba

ha

ma

s

Gu

ya

na

Tri

nid

ad

an

d

To

ba

go

Me

xic

o

Ve

ne

zu

ela

Ja

ma

ica

Co

lom

bia

Co

sta

Ric

a

Pe

ru

El S

alv

ad

or

Sa

int

Lu

cia

An

tig

ua

an

d

Ba

rbu

da

Su

rin

am

e 0

20

40

60

80

100

120

Number of volumes per 1000 inhabitantsNumber of volumes per 1000 literate inhabitantsPercentage of public libraries offering an internet access for users


Overview on the survey results: major highlights Overview on the survey results: major highlights (cont’d)(cont’d) No clear (or very disparate) pattern relating the size No clear (or very disparate) pattern relating the size

respondents countries’ population, their libraries respondents countries’ population, their libraries registered users to the level of loans => different or registered users to the level of loans => different or ‘inconsistent’ national policies ???‘inconsistent’ national policies ???

Guyana

Jamaica

Trinidad and Tobago

Saint Lucia

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Antigua and Barbuda

Netherlands Antilles

Chile

Venezuela

Bahamas

Colombia

Mexico

Suriname

1

10

100

1000

10000

1 10 100 1000

Number of registered users per 1000 inhabitants in public libraries (log scale)

Av

era

ge

nu

mb

er

of

loa

ns

pe

r 1

00

0 in

ha

bit

an

ts in

pu

blic

lib

rari

es

(lo

g s

ca

le)


Overview on the survey results: major highlights Overview on the survey results: major highlights (cont’d)(cont’d) Employability of female seems to be predominant than Employability of female seems to be predominant than

that of male in a majority of countries in the library that of male in a majority of countries in the library sector => is this reflective of a deliberate policy in LAC sector => is this reflective of a deliberate policy in LAC countries or is library job less attractive salary wise or countries or is library job less attractive salary wise or are basic requirements for recruitment more suitable for are basic requirements for recruitment more suitable for women?women?

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Antigua a

nd B

arb

uda

Neth

erlands A

ntilles

Sain

t K

itts

and N

evis

Surinam

e

Trinid

ad a

nd T

obago

Guyana

Monts

err

at

Dom

inic

a

Venezuela

British V

irgin

Isla

nds

Arg

entina

Uru

guay

El S

alv

ador

Sain

t Lucia

Costa

Ric

a

Baham

as

Sain

t V

incent

and t

he

Gre

nadin

es

Bra

zil

Jam

aic

a

Mexic

o

Chile

Avera

ge n

um

ber

of

em

plo

yee i

n p

ub

lic l

ibra

ries

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

20

Rati

o f

em

ale

to

male

em

plo

yees i

n p

ub

lic l

ibra

ries

Average number of employees in public libraries Ratio of female to male employees in public libraries


Preliminary conclusionsPreliminary conclusions

Persistent coverage issues of libraries statisticsPersistent coverage issues of libraries statistics

Although some countries have clearAlthough some countries have clearly stated (e.g. ly stated (e.g. Argentina, Chile, etc) that data are partial, it is Argentina, Chile, etc) that data are partial, it is still suspected in many cases that data reported still suspected in many cases that data reported are incompleteare incomplete

Methodological issuesMethodological issues

Not all countries surveyed seemed to have Not all countries surveyed seemed to have national statistics compatible with concepts and national statistics compatible with concepts and definitions of the new ISO 2789definitions of the new ISO 2789

Operational issuesOperational issues

Coordinated and exhaustive collection of libraries Coordinated and exhaustive collection of libraries statistics still remain a challenge for a majority statistics still remain a challenge for a majority of countriesof countries

Still uncertain if adequate national resources are Still uncertain if adequate national resources are yet devoted to comprehensive library statisticsyet devoted to comprehensive library statistics


Prospects: initial thoughts for partners considerationProspects: initial thoughts for partners considerationKey premiKey premisese

UIS prioritUIS priorities are geared toward making ‘Global Impact’ in ies are geared toward making ‘Global Impact’ in the collection of internationally standardized data in the collection of internationally standardized data in UNESCO areas of competenceUNESCO areas of competence

Are lessons learnt from the LAC pilot survey fully conclusive Are lessons learnt from the LAC pilot survey fully conclusive to allow a global scaling-up?to allow a global scaling-up?

Very ‘balanced’!Very ‘balanced’!

Food for thoughts as potential ways for forward: we still Food for thoughts as potential ways for forward: we still need to make a case for an international work on libraries need to make a case for an international work on libraries statisticsstatistics

Concentrate on developing capacity-building modules to Concentrate on developing capacity-building modules to train national specialists and build sustainable national train national specialists and build sustainable national statistical institutions on librariesstatistical institutions on libraries

Sample survey of libraries rather than administrative Sample survey of libraries rather than administrative records based survey on few ‘capable countries’ (major records based survey on few ‘capable countries’ (major challenge with establishment of viable national sample challenge with establishment of viable national sample frames)frames)

Change the focus of international surveys from Change the focus of international surveys from ‘infostructure’ to an Information literacy skills assessment ‘infostructure’ to an Information literacy skills assessment of libraries users or adult literates for candidate countries of libraries users or adult literates for candidate countries (major challenge: very resource-driven)(major challenge: very resource-driven)


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