This month, we offer Collection Ranking Europe (LRE), a ranking system developed by Maija Berndtson and also Mats Öström that concentrates on the capacity of various European libraries to use solutions to its customers.
We have chatted with the creators of the task Maija Berndtson, that has functioned as Library Supervisor of Helsinki City Library (1987-2013) as well as Mats Öström, that has functioned as Library Supervisor as well as Supervisor of Culture in Swedish municipalities (1974-2011). They tell us even more concerning the concept and also how libraries can take advantage of using it. Learn more insights below.
What is your job regarding as well as what is your objective?
The task Collection Position Europe (LRE) aims to create a ranking system that stimulates benchmarking and also strengthens the citizen and also client facet in developing European town libraries. The criteria of our pilot job are based on the viewpoint and also the requirements of the citizen and also consumer.
How did you produce the ranking system and also just how is it established?
The worths of our analysis originated from the Nordic public library ideology and also practice. In the Nordic nations, public libraries are essential for democracy and civil liberty, information supply, society, education, research, as well as social growth. Equality is very preferable and solutions being free of charge are crucial
In the Nordic countries, publiclibraries are essential for democracy as well as freedom. Equality is highly preferable as well as solutions being absolutely free are essential.
In our analysis, we utilize the approach of Secret Purchasing which are confidential brows through. The ranking system which we use during our visits in collections has various facets which are based upon our worths and also on the client viewpoint. The entire ranking system can be seen on our web site www.libraryranking.com. It includes main groups such as information regarding the library as well as its website, presence and also gain access to, service as well as supply, properties, selection of collection as well as freedom of expression as well as of choice.
For example, in the subcategories we look at what kind of information there has to do with the collection, just how very easy it is to locate the library, how much time are the opening hrs and also exactly how accessible the properties are for those that are handicapped. The primary group, ‘solutions and supply’, consists of matters like media and fees, programs, unique solutions, infotech, cafés, bathrooms, as well as recognizable staff. In the classification ‘facilities’, we assess appearances, lighting, seats, as well as opportunities to be and also work in silence or to be social. The flexibility of the supply of media and also the existence of controversial titles and also writers are also evaluated.
In our examination, we score every subcategory and get an overall amount of ratings. The LRE scale produces a ranking system that classifies collections according to the scores. We have a range of 6 celebrities from the most affordable “Poor” to the greatest “Extraordinary”.
Exactly how is the ranking system you produced different from others?
The difference of our ranking system with several other existing analysis systems is that we look at the ability of the collection to provide services to its consumers. We do not research stats, resources or monitoring as is the case in the High quality Analysis for instance. You can additionally locate ranking lists providing the most beautiful collections. That does not have much to do with the top quality of services or with the client comfort.
We have started LRE four years back as a pilot job to evaluate our system. Until now, we have reviewed over 60 collections in 14 European nations. After these analyses, we are instead persuaded that the system functions.
Our aspiration is to visit, to assess and also to rank town libraries in all kinds of communities in Europe, no town or city is as well little. The size of the municipality or the dimension of the collection is not of crucial importance when speaking about the quality of services. Even libraries in smaller towns have actually gotten to 5 star, the ‘Outstanding’ level, and some larger cities have one celebrity, ‘Poor’ libraries. The most significant part of the collections comes from the middle groups, from 3 to five stars, from ‘Excellent’ to ‘Outstanding’. Libraries can additionally be ‘Very good’, 4 celebrities as well as ‘Acceptable’, 2 stars.
With a lot of exceptional libraries throughout Europe, we marvel that hardly any of them are noted on the printed city maps, as well as, in the manuals for travelers. Instead, the national libraries or college libraries– which are sometimes closed for the public– are mentioned. As free spaces as well as substantial social institutions, public libraries should, at the very least in bigger cities, market their premises and also services for travelers and guests.
With LRE, we want to present an absolutely new device and also method to promote benchmarking and also the growth of quality among European town libraries. LRE uses a simple way to contrast public libraries in various countries as well as to enhance the possibilities for a European library discussion over international boundaries, not only amongst librarians but also together with European political leaders, decision-makers as well as organizations.
LRE is also a development tool for a single collection. Our customized is to do the brows through completely confidential with no contact with the collection in advance. But after the visit, LRE can tell in more details, provide feedback, exactly how the library can boost its services. Occasionally adjustments that are not expensive can suggest a great deal for the client.
Bibliothèque Méjanes, Aix-en-Provence. 4 stars: Excellent.
Exactly how do you picture the job evolving in the future?
We still go on screening our system and try to establish it further. However at some time in the future, we really hope that a well-known establishment or organization can take obligation for the system, develop it, expand it and examine even more libraries. In all, the European public libraries should coordinate more to reinforce their placements in their own nations and also within the EU. They additionally could be a lot more visible.
All Europe ´ s town library units should have a joint sign, a logotype, like visitor companies have the I-symbol. Not to have a shared trademark for collections within the EU is both short-sighted as well as defensive. The public collections have whatever to get if they stick and also demonstrate that they really work together in an effective network. A joint icon gotten in touch with a galaxy like hotels would be still more consumer friendly and would certainly encourage the collections to enhance their services.
Simply to pick, as well as present, a joint icon for Europe ´ s town libraries would certainly make them significantly much more visible. But most important is the development of top quality and also efficiency for the people. Secret buying from a customer perspective and position can be a brand-new device in this ambition.