Hi Steve

We don't at LTH. Mandy & I discussed the possibility of doing this last year, but didn't take it forward.

I too would be interested in hearing if other libraries do this & their views on whether it is a useful exercise. Do the libraries do it consistently? Or do they take snapshots (i.e. do it over certain time periods & extrapolate these statistics to give a yearly total)?

Many thanks

Jeanine

Jeanine Fielding, Operational Library Manager

Library & Information Service

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Education Centre 1

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston PR2 9HT

Tel: 01772 524294 Fax: 01772 523491 E: [log in to unmask]

Be part of the 6 Book Challenge! Great prizes to be won! Ask for details at either the Royal Preston or Chorley District Hospital libraries.

Have you had an appraisal in the last twelve months? If not, please discuss this with your line manager.....

From: Glover Steven [mailto:[log in to unmask]]
Sent: 03 June 2010 12:52
To: Fielding Jeanine (LTHTR); [log in to unmask]
Subject: RE: Usage of books stocked in NHS libraries in the NW

Hi Jeanine /all

I agree!

Some libraries are issuing the books lying around to "ghost" readers to account for usage although I have no idea how many libraries in the NW engage in this practice?

So I am assuming (dangerously) that the 453,754 issues include some "ghost" activity.

All - How many libraries issue un-shelved books to ghost readers to assess in-house usage?

Cheers

Steve Glover

Education Business Manager

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester M20 4BX

Tel: 0161-446-3449

From: A list for health related libraries within the North West of England [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Fielding Jeanine (LTHTR)
Sent: 03 June 2010 12:14
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Re: Usage of books stocked in NHS libraries in the NW

Hi Steve

I think you've forgotten about in-house use. Looking around the library at any time during the day and evenings, there are a lot of books being used; they just don't get taken out the door. It's been the same in any library in which I have worked. Having books available for use is of fundamental importance. It doesn't matter if the books aren't actually issued for loan.

Kind regards

Jeanine

Jeanine Fielding, Operational Library Manager

Library & Information Service

Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust

Education Centre 1

Royal Preston Hospital

Sharoe Green Lane

Preston PR2 9HT

Tel: 01772 524294 Fax: 01772 523491 E: [log in to unmask]

Be part of the 6 Book Challenge! Great prizes to be won! Ask for details at either the Royal Preston or Chorley District Hospital libraries.

Have you had an appraisal in the last twelve months? If not, please discuss this with your line manager.....

From: A list for health related libraries within the North West of England [mailto:[log in to unmask]] On Behalf Of Glover Steven
Sent: 03 June 2010 11:55
To: [log in to unmask]
Subject: Usage of books stocked in NHS libraries in the NW

Hi All

I was asked a question by Wiley-Blackwell how often a print book is issued on average?

I answered that I did not know as I had argued that e-book usage is disappointingly low, and they asked me what I was comparing the "low usage" with?

Looking at the HCLU stats on the website for 2007/2008 the numbers were interesting.

11.3 - total number of book stock reported for all services was 405,000 copies

5.1 - total number of issues to own readers was 453754

So I guess as a rough average each book copy is issued 1.12 times per year to our own readers.

Maybe the e-book usage is better than we think?

Or we stock a lot of books that don't get read?

Cheers

Steve Glover

Education Business Manager

The Christie NHS Foundation Trust

Manchester M20 4BX

Tel: 0161-446-3449

This e-mail and any files transmitted with it are confidential and solely for the use of the intended recipient.

If you have received this e-mail in error you should not disseminate, distribute or copy it.

Please notify the sender immediately and delete this e-mail from your system.

This message and any files transmitted with it are confidential and intended solely for the individual(s) addressed. If you have received this e-mail in error then please note that disclosing, copying, distributing or retaining this message or any part of it is strictly prohibited. Please notify the sender immediately and delete it from your system. Any views or opinions presented are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of Lancashire Teaching Hospitals NHS Foundation Trust. The Trust accepts no liability for any damage caused by any virus transmitted with this e-mail, so although it has been virus checked before transmission, the recipient should also check for the presence of viruses. The information contained in this email may be subject to public disclosure under the NHS Code of Openness or the Freedom of Information Act 2000. Unless the information is legally exempt from disclosure, the confidentiality of this email and any subsequent reply cannot be guaranteed. http://www.lancsteachinghospitals.nhs.uk