Measuring value: in libraries, as in life

Citation

Mitchell, E. and Barbara Watstein, S. (2008), "Measuring value: in libraries, as in life", Reference Services Review, Vol. 36 No. 3. https://doi.org/10.1108/rsr.2008.24036caa.001

Measuring value: in libraries, as in life

Article Type: Editorial From: Reference Services Review, Volume 36, Issue 3

In the Broadway musical, Rent, the song “Seasons of love” by songwriter Jonathan D. Larson asks “How do you measure a year in the life?” Rent is a modern day version of the opera La Bohème. Set in New York City’s East Village, it’s an emotionally stirring story of a community of young artists struggling to live and celebrate life. Rent received, among other awards, the 1996 Pulitzer Prize for Drama and the 1996 Tony Award for Best Musical, Best Score and Best Book.

The lyrics of “Seasons of love” begin with numbers, breaking down a year into “525,600 minutes, 525,000 moments so dear.” The lyrics continue “how do you measure, measure a year? In daylights, in sunsets, in midnights, in cups of coffee. In inches, in miles, in laughter, in strife. In 525,600 minutes - how do you measure a year in the life?”[1]. The answer, for those who are curious, comes in the form of a question – “How about love? How about love? How about love?” and then a suggestion – “Measure in love. Seasons of love.”

At RSR, we’re grateful that our challenge is not to grapple with this question. As co-editors, and library administrators who have come up through the public service ranks, we grapple instead with this: how do we demonstrate our library services’ value to our constituents, our administrations, or our stakeholders? What is their return on investment, or ROI? How do you measure the value of public services? In gate counts? In reference statistics? In the number and diversity of instructional activities? In Web trends? In user satisfaction? For public service librarians in academic libraries – in contact hours with our faculty? In consultations with students?

We challenge RSR readers to think about how they measure the value of public services in their libraries. And, we direct readers’ attention to the timely interview with Paula Kaufman, Dean of Libraries and University Librarian at the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign that begins the issue. Undeniably, we make a difference at the front lines in our users’ lives. You know that. We know that. In these times, the effective demonstration of that value could not be more important.

Note

http://www.stlyrics.com/lyrics/rent/seasonsoflove.htm (accessed May 22, 2008)

Eleanor Mitchell, Sarah Barbara Watstein