Library Services Benchmarks 2017: Corporate Library Services in the Pharmaceutical Industry

STUDY OVERVIEW

Libraries and information centers allow access to crucial information and services that form a valuable aid in decision making. Innovation in corporate library services in the biopharmaceutical industry has been relatively slow, which needs to be further explored and developed.

Best Practices, LLC undertook benchmarking research to develop 2017 benchmarks for selected services and resources provided by libraries and information centers within the biopharmaceutical industry. In particular, this study provides benchmarks around the use of vendors in services delivery, financial resources, cost recovery practices, distribution of FTE hours by service category, penetration of potential user base and library innovation & service strategies.

Libraries and information center leaders can use this study to innovate and form service strategies that aid in increased customer engagement, enhanced customer outreach and cost efficiency.

KEY TOPICS

• Use of Vendors in Services Delivery
• Financial Resources
• Cost Recovery Practices
• Distribution of FTE Hours by Service Category
• Penetration of Potential User Base
• Library Innovation & Service Strategies

KEY METRICS

• Who provides reference, print/physical collection, electronic resources management, information technology/ website development & management and knowledge management services for your library or information center?
• What percentage of total library FTE hours did each of the listed labor categories require?
• Approximately what percentage of the staff providing library/information services at your company holds an ALA accredited master’s degree and what percentage of staff holds advanced degrees outside the field of Library and Information Science?
• What was the total cost of providing library services and resources in your most recently completed fiscal year?
• What was the total cost of providing library services and resources in your most recently completed fiscal year?
• What methods does your library use for recovering costs for its services and resources?
• When negotiating renewal agreements, what types of concessions do you expect from vendors when committing to multi-year agreements?

SAMPLE KEY FINDINGS

• Core Services: At least 80% of libraries in the study provide a core group of four services, with all providing resource assistance (ad hoc user training); organization, cataloging, indexing & tagging of external electronic resources; license negotiation; and development & maintenance of electronic library services & resources.

METHODOLOGY

Best Practices, LLC engaged 10 leaders from 10 top biopharmaceutical companies through a benchmarking survey.

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