‘‘ L IBRARIES face
challenges on all levels from book buying to physical spaces and workforce. Where
data is available, Jamie Wright, says it is becoming increasingly important to use it. “Over the past several years libraries have been under extreme pressure to do more with less. We have seen the number of librarians coming into the sector reduce year on year meaning libraries need to adapt how they operate their service. We have seen an increased dependence on data driven decision making.” He said: “As the Director of Customer Experience, I visit libraries worldwide, and while the accents of the staff may vary, the challenges in library stock management are remarkably consist- ent. The most common challenge li- braries face today is a shortage of staff needed to run services at their best.”
The public library sector is witnessing a promising return to pre-COVID footfall and borrowing rates, marking a positive shift in community engagement.
Data driven decisions during a crisis
What challenges can data solve in public and academic libraries? Jamie Wright, Director, Customer Experience at collection HQ, takes a look.
Trends
Despite the crises in library funding and staffing, Jamie says: “The public library sector is witnessing a promising return to pre-COVID footfall and borrowing rates, marking a positive shift in com- munity engagement. This resurgence is partly due to libraries expanding their electronic offerings, including e-books, e-magazines, and e-newspapers, making it easier for patrons to access diverse resources digitally.
“A trend among inner-city libraries is the creation of additional study spaces for students. This shift in usage is prompting libraries to adjust their physical collec- tions, carefully deciding which materials stay on the shelves, which go into stor- age, and which are weeded.”
Collection management
“Modern library management systems increasingly incorporate data analytics tools to support informed decision-mak- ing,” Jamie says, adding that it “gives libraries a way to analyse usage patterns and make evidence-based choices”. This is the area in which collectionHQ operates, using evidence based stock man- agement methodology to manage existing collections and make purchasing decisions. As an illustration Jamie said a tool that has seen significant global growth in usage is its “Transfer Tool” which analyses demand across libraries, identi- fying underutilised materials that could satisfy needs elsewhere. He said: “By redistributing books more effectively, many libraries have boosted their annual circulation figures, demonstrating how thoughtful data-driven strategies can enhance both resource utilisation and reader engagement.”
Jamie Wright. Physical space
Collection management is part of phys- ical space management. Jamie said: “Balancing traditional collections with modern demands for space is a strate- gic challenge, as libraries strive to meet evolving community needs.” The company has recently been responding to these trends in academ- ic settings, particularly in the US, and introduced “cHQacademic” in July 2024 for university library collections. Jamie says: “The University of Virginia is managing a collection of over five mil- lion books spread across campuses and storage. As more students rely on digital resources, the university is working to streamline its physical collections to better support contemporary learning environments.
“This trend is evident elsewhere as
well; the University of Central Florida, for instance, noted that its storage facility – originally projected to serve for nearly a century – has already reached capacity.
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