Shelf-ready: A cost-benefit analysis

Schroeder, Rebecca A.; Howland, Jared L.

doi:10.1016/j.lcats.2011.04.002

Cited by 10 publications

(6 citation statements)

References 9 publications

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“…16 Schroeder and Howland conducted a cost-benefit analysis of in-house and shelf-ready materials processing at the University of Birmingham library. 17 The study reveals that the shelf-ready books took 47 percent less processing time and were placed on the shelf thirty-three days sooner as compared to the materials processed in-house. In turn, Bierman and Carter calculated per-title cost for shelf-ready materials by combining vendor and OCLC charges with staff salaries and physical processing fees as $6.85 per title.…”

Section: This Paper Analyzes Results Of a Survey On Shelf-ready Matermentioning

confidence: 96%

Ready or Not?

Tomlin¹,

Kandarasheva²

2014

LRTS

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T he acquisition of library materials in shelf-ready form is one of the outsourcing strategies implemented by technical services departments to improve efficiency, reduce costs, and increase patron satisfaction. Shelf-ready materials supplied by vendors include physical items accompanied by full bibliographic records and physical processing such as application of barcodes, spine labels, security strips, etc. As the current library environment is moving toward management of electronic resources, the possibility of streamlining receiving, cataloging, and processing of materials in non-electronic format is potentially a very welcome alternative to the traditional acquisitions to cataloging model. While some libraries gained substantial experience in managing shelf-ready operations during the last decade, others are still contemplating the idea or are unsure of the implications that shelf-ready services could have for their libraries' databases and staffing. Potential concerns linked to the implementation of shelf-ready services can include extra review of vendor-supplied records, presence of less than full bibliographic records, and changes in work assignments for technical services staff. The review of current library literature reveals a need for assessment of academic libraries' practices in shelf-ready materials management.The authors designed a survey to gain insights into different aspects of acquiring shelf-ready materials in US academic libraries with varying collection sizes. The authors were particularly interested in gathering feedback on the quality of bibliographic records for shelf-ready materials and their effect on local cataloging practices, including authority work. The implication of the new cataloging code,

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Section: This Paper Analyzes Results Of a Survey On Shelf-ready Matermentioning

confidence: 96%

Ready or Not?

Tomlin¹,

Kandarasheva²

2014

LRTS

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“…That includes consideration of the basic assumptions about how things should be, the norms of service delivery, the scope of the cost analysis, dealing with allocation of overhead costs and depreciation of equipment (computers, e.g.). An example from the costing of shelf-ready books (Schroeder and Howland, 2011) explained the need for a better estimate of the costs involved in getting a book on the shelf, as the average cost of cataloguing and processing (calculated from the annual cataloguing and processing salaries, plus supplies) fails to take into account other costs that may matter (costs of storage for items waiting for processing, and waiting time for the readers). Also, as the authors point out, cataloguers/ processors do not spend 100 per cent of their time cataloguing or processing as they may be involved in meetings, training events and so on.…”

Section: Library and Information Servicesmentioning

confidence: 99%

Reflections on the value and impact of library and information services

Urquhart

Turner

2016

Performance Measurement and Metrics

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Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to critically review methods of impact assessment and economic analyses. Design/methodology/approach – Reviews the literature on impact assessment, and examines some case studies of impact assessment in health libraries. Relates satisfaction and dissatisfaction assessment to impact assessment. Identifies recent impact assessment approaches in public and academic libraries, and explores different uses of terminology for impact and outcome. Reviews literature on economic analysis of value, including cost analyses, cost-effectiveness analysis and return on investment (ROI) studies. Findings – Terms for library assessment (outcome, output, impact, value and benefit) vary among different sectors. Impact evaluation should examine initial assumptions of value carefully, and examine possible gaps in the line of argument linking inputs of library services to presumed impacts (positive and negative). More attention to sampling and response rates is required, to avoid problems such as the “warm glow” effect. Qualitative and quantitative evidence should be carefully integrated to tell the impact story. Economic impact can be estimated, but methodology depends on the service aims and sector. Originality/value – Demonstrates that some of the requirements for traditional impact assessment also affect economic analyses and ROI studies.

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“…Schroeder and Howland conducted a study of shelf-ready processing, finding that shelf-ready was cheaper and took less time to process. 17 Stouthuysen et al presented the results of their research to apply a time-driven activitybased costing (TDABC) model to the acquisitions process in a Belgian university library in an effort to improve cost management. 18 Their findings show that TDABC is well suited for use in a library setting and may lead to potential cost efficiencies.…”

Section: Literature Reviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Technical Services Assessment

Mugridge¹

2014

LRTS

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Academic libraries regularly conduct assessment of library services through the use of rubrics or assessment tools such as LibQUAL (www.libqual.org/home). Technical services activities are frequently assessed; however, the assessment is typically limited to the evaluation of specific processes. This study was designed to explore assessment activities in Pennsylvania’s academic libraries. The author designed a survey to investigate whether technical services activities are assessed, how they are assessed, who is responsible for assessment, how the results of assessment activities are shared with others, and how those results are used to improve services or for other purposes. Sixty-three libraries responded to the survey (a 53 percent response rate). Survey results show that 90 percent of academic libraries in Pennsylvania have conducted some form of assessment of technical services activities but that most of that assessment is quantitative in nature.

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Shelf-ready: A cost-benefit analysis

Cited by 10 publications

References 9 publications

Ready or Not?

Ready or Not?

Reflections on the value and impact of library and information services

Technical Services Assessment

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