In the current digital landscape, information needs often surpass available e-resources, and librarians are required to justify purchases or requests for budget increases with quantitative evidence. By collecting and analyzing quantitative data sets, librarians can evaluate e-book collections and provide administration with evidence that can help them make informed decisions that better support patrons' needs.
In this issue of Library Technology Reports (vol. 53, no. 4), "Applying Quantitative Methods to E-book Collections," author Melissa Goertzen demonstrates how to develop an evaluation framework for e-book collections using readily available quantitative data sources. Throughout the report, she provides examples of research methods, data sets, and study results that shes used to make informed decisions for Columbia University Libraries (CUL) e-book collection. This report will guide you through the quantitative analysis process and showcase that analysis methods can be developed for e-book collections regardless of the size of your library or equipment budget. Goertzen covers such important topics as
By collecting and analyzing quantitative data sets, librarians can evaluate e-book collections and provide administration with evidence that can help them make informed decisions that better support patrons' needs.
Chapter 1Analyzing E-book Collections in the Digital Age
Chapter 2Establishing a Foundation: Trends in the Publishing Industry and
User Communities
Chapter 3Introduction to Quantitative Research and Data
Chapter 4Putting It into Practice: Quantitative Methods at Columbia
University Libraries
Chapter 5Translation of Quantitative Results to Collection Development
Policies
Chapter 6Conclusion
Melissa J. Goertzen is the Collection Development Analysis & Support Librarian at Columbia University Libraries. She has ten years of experience working as a writer, project manager, and information professional at academic institutions across Canada and the United States. In 2016, she completed the E-book Program Development Study, an ambitious assessment project that documented the e-book landscape at Columbia University over the course of two years. The results provided a series of strategic best practices for collection development initiatives. She completed a double BA program in English and History at the University of Calgary, followed by a Master of Information Management (MLIS) at Dalhousie University. To learn more, please visit http://melissagoertzen.wordpress.com.
