PurposeThis paper aims to outline the development of research into the value of libraries over the past decade.Design/methodology/approachRecent studies using contingent valuation for the British Library, South Carolina Public Libraries, Florida Public Libraries and St Louis Public Libraries are summarised both in terms of methodology and findings. Studies into two national bibliographic services (Canada and New Zealand) are reviewed to demonstrate the application of value studies to specific services.FindingsThere are many questions that have yet to be answered through using this methodology. At the most basic level it is not yet clear whether any particular numerical result represents the best return on investment for an individual library. The lack of comparative of studies means that the appropriate level of return on investment than that which the taxpayer or investor should expect, has yet to be established.Research limitations/implicationsThere is a need for further research to identify the relative position in which libraries in the major sectors should expect to be found. More significantly, there is a need to consider how a value identified for current use of a service should be balanced against future use, and to establish how these two analyses might be combined.Originality/valueShows consistent use of contingent valuation and return on investment for libraries in public and national library sectors. Each study took considerable resources and man‐hours to establish a community/user based economic result.

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Purpose -This paper aims to summarise the changing pattern of Australian interlibrary loans and document delivery, the achievements of the consultative mechanisms (National Resource Sharing Working Group and National Research Sharing Policy Committees) and issues identified for further action. Design/methodology/approach -Looks at the different aspects of resource sharing. Findings -The major themes identified for future action are the need for increased resource discovery (through the NBD), acquisition of collections (particularly with library closures), capability building (training and manuals), information on performance and an urgent need to review the ILRS Code to improve speed of delivery and intelligibility of service levels. Originality/value -From the user perspective, the ILL/DD system in the early twenty-first century is complex and fragmented. The challenge for the Australian library sector is to build on the good infrastructure and systems developed through the NRSWG and NRSPC over the past six years and to develop new models which provide easy transparent modes of access to library collections across the nation.

IntroductionAustralians live in an environment offering a vast array of information choices -for those in capital cities and with affordable access to networks. For those who are not so blessed, the choices are limited, reminiscent of a time of waiting for the news via horseback. These challenges have been recognised by libraries, and their activities to connect individuals to the online environment and government services are strongly underpinning a digital nation and economy.In 2009, our understanding of what it means to be an Australian citizen encompasses participation in government and the economy via the digital environment.The Government has recognised the importance of supporting access and interaction with the formation of the Government 2.0 Task Force. Minister Tanner, in launching the Task Force commented:Today's citizens are too informed, too smart, too able to access and use information to be simply directed by a centralised government.And politicians and public servants have to realise that information that is not sensitive for the operations of government or does not breach the privacy of individuals has to be shared. (Tanner, 2009) The task of transforming Australia's economy and society into a successful digital economy is a significant one that requires a long-term focus. This paper outlines areas for government, industry and community to work on to ensure that Australia is well on the path to a successful digital economy.For Australians, being able to participate in the digital world offers many benefits, but there are also significant challenges-in skills, access, accessibility and digital resources. This paper outlines some of the challenges and some of the achievements of libraries in supporting Australians to become more digitally adept.The term 'public libraries' is used in its broad sense and includes local, state and national libraries. What does the current digital environment mean to Australians?Australians are early adopters of technology. The latest information from the Australian Bureau of Statistics indicates that 67% of Australian households have home Internet access (Australian Bureau of Statistics, 2008b). From 1998, household access to the Internet at home has more than quadrupled from 16% to 67%. Broadband access, essential for speedy, effective access to resources on the Internet, has also grown, reaching an estimated 4.3 million households.As a nation, however, Australia has some way to go before universal access is achieved. Australia's Digital Economy: Future Directions Final Report gives the following contextual data: or elsewhere in regional Australia, not having rapid broadband access means that pdf files will time out before they open, videos cannot be played, and access to quality information is limited by the additional costs of subscriptions. What can you find online?While there are countless resources available through the Internet, those freely available can be of highly variable quality. Some are humorous, some informative and some downright misleading. Exampl...

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