Abstract

National data sets can be used by a librarian to compare library collection (materials) spending to that of similar schools, even if the librarian has little or no experience in statistics or database management tools. Percentile rank is a simple descriptive statistic that provides a way to present data with maximum impact on faculty and administrators who make funding decisions. Librarians must combine knowledge of their local circumstances with a basic understanding of the structure of the datasets. The article will focus on step-by-step methodologies, illustrated as they were used at the College of Staten Island, City University of New York. While the examples used were budgetary, similar methodologies can be used to compare library services between various institutions.

摘要

图书馆员可以使用国家数据集来比较图书馆馆藏（材料）支出与类似学校的支出，即使图书馆员在统计或数据库管理工具方面经验很少或没有经验。百分位等级是一种简单的描述性统计数据，它提供了一种呈现数据的方法，对做出资助决策的教师和管理人员产生最大影响。图书馆员必​​须将对当地情况的了解与对数据集结构的基本了解结合起来。本文将重点介绍循序渐进的方法，如纽约城市大学史泰登岛学院所使用的方法。虽然使用的示例是预算的，但类似的方法可用于比较不同机构之间的图书馆服务。