Value of Academic Libraries Report

The ACRL publication Value of Academic Libraries: A Comprehensive Research Review and Report is a review of the quantitative and qualitative literature, methodologies and best practices currently in place for demonstrating the value of academic libraries, developed for ACRL by Megan Oakleaf of the iSchool at Syracuse University. The primary objective of this comprehensive review is to provide academic librarians with a clearer understanding of what research about the performance of academic libraries already exists, where gaps in this research occur, and to identify the most promising best practices and measures correlated to performance.

Full Report (PDF) | Executive Summary (PDF) | Bibliography (PDF)

The Value of Academic Libraries Report is now available for purchase in print from Amazon and Barnes and Noble.

Report author Megan Oakleaf and past ACRL President Lisa Hinchliffe discuss the report in this ACRL Podcast. [ 25:14 ] Play in New Window

Media Coverage of the VAL Report

Michael Kelley. “A New Framework May Help Academic Libraries Demonstrate Their Value.” Library Journal Online. November 2, 2011.

Andy Havens and Tim Storey. “How Valuable Can Libraries Become?” Next Space: The OCLC Newsletter. December 2010.

Jennifer Howard. “A Toolkit to Help Academic Libraries Demonstrate Their Value.” Chronicle of Higher Education. September 14, 2010.

Steven Kolowich. “The Value of Libraries.” Inside Higher Ed. September 14, 2010.

Daniel Fusch. “Academic Libraries: Defining (and Communicating) Your Value.” Academic Impressions. September 16, 2010.

Josh Hadro. “ACRL Report Offers Guidance for Measuring Value of Academic Libraries.” Library Journal Online. September 14, 2010.

Official Press Release/ American Libraries Direct

Additional Resoures Discussing the VAL Report

Lluís Anglada. “Coste y valor en tiempo de crisis.” Bdig (biblioteques digitals i cooperació). February 21, 2011. {Spanish language}

Steven Bell. “After the Value Study.” ACRLog. February 15, 2011.

David Shulenburger. “The Relationship Between University Assessment and Library Assessment.” Library Assessment Conference, Baltimore. December 2010.

Ángel Borrego. “¿Qué aporta la biblioteca a la universidad?” blok de bid. November 16, 2010. {Spanish language}

Stephen Abram. “The Value of Academic Libraries Redux.” Stephen’s Lighthouse. November 1, 2010.

Carl Grant. “‘The Value of Academic Libraries’ and the Incomplete Chapter.” Commentary from Carl Grant. October 21, 2010.

“October Meeting Recap.” LAUW Journal Club blog. October 19, 2010. Note: Contains discussion of Value Report.

Megan Oakleaf. “Interview on the Value of Academic Libraries Report.” Oklahoma State Regents College Connection. September 25, 2010. Note: The audio interview begins at 3:30 in the September 25, 2010 edition.

Felix Chu. “Commentary on ACRL’s Value of Academic Libraries.” Felix Chu’s Blog. September 24, 2010.

Phil Davis. “State of the Art I – The Future of Academic Librarians.” The Scholarly Kitchen. September 22, 2010.

Stephen Abram. “ACRL: Value of Academic Libraries.” Stephen’s Lighthouse. September 19, 2010.

Amy Fry and Steven Bell. “On Being Valuable: Point-Counterpoint.” ACRLog. September 17, 2010.

Christopher Barth. “Headline of the Week: The Value of Academic Libraries.” Luther College LIS This Week in LIS. September 17, 2010.

Barbara Fister. “Assessing the (Enduring) Value of Libraries.” Inside Higher Ed BlogU. September 17, 2010.

Barbara Fister. “Valuing Libraries – Peer to Peer Review.” Library Journal blog. September 16, 2010.

“Syracuse iSchool Prof. Megan Oakleaf’s writes ACRL Value of Academic Libraries report.” Syracuse iSchool News. September 14, 2010.