Applying Quantitative Methods to E-book Collections

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: current trends in patron information needs and publishing; quantitative data and metrics, including key characteristics and various types of research questions they can answer; performance measures and indicators that can be used in information management environments to support conclusions for e-book collection development decisions; a case study of the E-book Program Development Study that Goertzen conducted at CUL and a research framework that Goertzen relies on to plan and define her e-book analysis projects; examples that demonstrates how quantitative methods can answer questions related to fund allocations, return on investment, usage trends, collection impact, and content distribution across subject headings; and a discussion of how quantitative research can translate into collection development policies and best practices.