The document summarizes the results of a global survey on reference resources and budgets. Some key findings include:
- Reference budgets have decreased in most libraries over the past 5 years and are predicted to continue decreasing or remain steady over the next 5 years.
- Budget lines are being consolidated, with reference spending coming from subject funds or electronic resources funds.
- There is a strong preference for electronic reference resources over print.
- Librarians perceive that undergraduates and research faculty use reference resources the most. However, many patrons are unaware of available reference resources.
- Discovery of reference materials is challenging, as they are often not well-represented in discovery services or library catalogs.
HMCS Max Bernays Pre-Deployment Brief (May 2024).pptx
The Current State of Reference
1. The current state of
reference:
Select results of the
global reference
survey
Elisabeth Leonard, MSLS, MBA
Market Research Analyst,
SAGE
Twitter: @ElisabethAnn, #RefTalk
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
3. What I did
Invitations to complete the survey were sent
to various listservs, including publib, colldev,
acqnet, and SLA chapter lists globally.
Email invitations were sent to 800 reference,
collection development, and acquisition
librarians.
There were 32 questions.
Completed surveys were eligible to win an
iPad mini.
Followed up with interviews and focus
groups. @ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
4. Demographics
Demographics
471 responses (600+ came to the first page)
90% came from North America, 6% from Asia
Pacific, 2% from Europe, 1% from South
America, and 0.5% from Africa.
58% were from academic libraries, 13% from
corporate libraries, 12% from government or
military libraries, and 1% from school libraries.
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
6. Reference budgets: last 5 years
Academic Public Special
Increased 10% 15% 12%
Stayed the
same
34% 15% 29%
Decreased 49% 65% 49%
Don’t know 7% 5% 9%
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
7. Reference budgets: next 5 years
Academic Public Special
Increase 10% 6% 18%
Stay the
same
34% 44% 32%
Decrease 54% 50% 44%
Don’t spend
now
1% 0% 5%
Eliminated 0.6% 0% 0.9%
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
8. Comparing trends in special
libraries
0%
10%
20%
30%
40%
50%
60%
Increased Stayed the same Decreased Don’t know
Last 5 years
Next 5 years
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
9. General trends: budgets
Libraries are consolidating their budget
lines, with some no longer including a
separate budget line for reference
Spending often comes out of subject funds
and e-resources fund
A preference for e-reference
Growth to support new programs
Reduction because of journals spend and
increased e-resources spend
Importance of one time funds
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
10. Spending comes from subject
funds
“We have not had a reference budget for
some time now. Reference resources that
are acquired now come out of subject
area budgets along with any resources
needed for that area.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
11. Funds move to e-resources line
“Although the amount of the reference
budget is probably about the same, the
type of materials purchases are quite
different. We used to spend considerable
money on paper monographs, standing
orders, and reference serials. We spend
very little on any of those, but much of the
money we spent has now been
transferred into the budget for online
resources.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
12. Consolidation of budget lines
“We continue to purchase reference materials but
we don't have a separate "reference" budget line.
We engaged in some reorganization a few years
ago, and that included folding many separate
small budget lines into fewer, larger, ones.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
13. A preference for e-reference
“We have a shared fund for purchases of
online resources - many of which are A&I
databases and thus 'reference'. But they
are not charged to our 'reference' fund.
Our 'reference' fund is only for print material.
So our online reference buying is increasing
each year. Our print reference buying is
holding steady or decreasing.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
14. Growth from new programs
“Our budget was cut last year, but we will
be gaining 3 new residency programs.
Therefore, in certain areas, I think our
budget will increase to meet GME
requirements.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
15. Importance of one time funds
“We've seen fluctuations in our reference
purchasing because, though we have definitely
seen cuts in the amount of monies we spend, we've
also been the beneficiaries of one-time money
which has then been used to purchase all sorts of
materials, including reference materials. This has
had the overall effect of off-setting cuts in the
budget.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
16. “E” (and a little print)
Academic Public Special
Print only 0.5% 0% 3%
Print preferred 4% 5% 6%
Online only 7% 0% 11%
Online preferred 68% 35% 50%
No preference 22% 60% 31%
No longer purchase
reference
1% 0% 5%
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
18. Who is reference for
Undergraduates more than graduates
Research faculty more than teaching
faculty
Doctors more than nurses
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
19. Who is reference for?
“Sometimes the requests come
from patrons, but more often
from colleagues (after dealing
with patrons and noticing a
need) and professors.”
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
20. But they do ask for
Subject handbooks
Databases
Encyclopedias
Dictionaries
Updated editions
As well as journals, articles and textbooks
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
21. But is it “reference”?
“We have tried to use the term [reference]
less since today's students do not identify with
the term. I also find for my business students
that encyclopedias, handbooks and the like
are not necessary items. They need industry
report, market report types of resources. They
use the article databases, but frankly they
can find so much on the open web, that
even those article databases are only half as
valuable as they once were.”
Business Librarian, Academic Library, USA
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
25. Top ways librarians think patrons
discover reference resources
Following the direction of a librarian
Following the direction of an instructor
Searching online (eg. Google)
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
27. Issues with discovery
The Discovery service doesn't make it possible
to filter for this content. Our catalog does a
great job, but the students don't start there.
Our major reference vendor's content isn't in
the Discovery service (yet). Reference
Universe, the index to reference
content, does not work well enough in the
Discovery Layer or even on its own to get
students to that content. A problem that
needs to be fixed.
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
28. It’s not just discovery
It can always be better
Free alternative resources
Patrons are not on board
Not enough value for the money
Not enough promotion
The value is in the answer
C’est la vie
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
29. What does it all mean?
User behavior has changed
Information sources have changed
Reference is no longer a place
Therefore definitions for reference have
changed and buying of “reference” has
changed
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
30. It’s bigger than reference
“I always want people to know what we
have and to use it more. It is an uphill
battle to get them to use the library
instead of Google (or other search
engine) as their starting place.”
Library Director, US
@ElisabethAnn and/or #RefTalk
Corporate: we don't have a set budget - we purchase based on suggestions from our knowledge of from colleagues and get approval. Desire generally results in a purchase if it can be justified. Some items, like specific ASTM standards CD-ROMs however, we purchase every year.I expect the budget for reference services will remain the same. We have moved to a more online database services library, and only have a very small collection of hardcopy publlications.We are in danger of losing our budget for reference material.
We have a shared fund for purchases of online resources - many of which are A&I databases and thus 'reference'. But they are not charged to our 'reference' fund. Our 'reference' fund is only for print material. So our online reference buying is increasing each year. Our print reference buying is holding steady or decreasing. “We have a shared fund for purchases of online resources - many of which are A&I databases and thus 'reference'. But they are not charged to our 'reference' fund. Our 'reference' fund is only for print material. So our online reference buying is increasing each year. Our print reference buying is holding steady or decreasing.”
It can always be better (I feel usage is good, but could be better/ I always want people to read more, research more. I will never be fully satisfied!)Free alternative resources (It is an uphill battle to get them to use the library instead of Google or other search engine as their starting place.)Faculty not on board (Many faculty discourage students from using reference materials when they are a great place to start the process.)Not enough value for the money (Aren't used heavily enough, based on their research value.)Not enough promotion (We need to promote our reference resources. These resources are basically underused and we are increasinglyselective about acquiring them in print; Usage does drive renewals)The value is in the answer (IMO, it doesn't matter if a Ref is used exactly once, IF with that use it provides precisely what the patron needs.)C’est la vie (People are usually either library users, or they are not. Some people just don't give priority to such things, and they probably won't set the world on fire.)