ISO 2789:2022

INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 2789
Sixth edition
2022-09
Information and documentation —
International library statistics
Information et documentation — Statistiques internationales de
bibliothèques
Reference number
© ISO 2022
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ii
Contents Page
Foreword . vi
Introduction .vii
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Terms and definitions . 1
3.1 Library . 1
3.2 Library services and use . 4
3.3 Collections . 13
3.4 Access and facilities .22
3.5 Management . . . 24
3.6 Funding and expenditure . . 25
3.7 Library staff . 26
4 Current tasks of libraries .27
4.1 General . 27
4.2 Types of libraries .28
4.3 Changes in user activities .28
4.3.1 Activities inside the library premises .28
4.3.2 Activities outside the library premises .29
5 Uses and benefits of statistics . .29
5.1 Background .29
5.1.1 General .29
5.1.2 Objectives . 29
5.1.3 Quality . 30
5.2 Developments in library practice . 30
5.2.1 Contents of library statistics .30
5.2.2 Sampling .30
5.2.3 Data for performance measures .30
5.2.4 Impact data . 30
5.2.5 Other developments .30
5.3 Selection of statistics for the library . 30
5.4 Use of statistics . 31
5.4.1 General . 31
5.4.2 External communication . 31
5.5 Presenting statistics to stakeholders . 31
6 Reporting statistical data .32
6.1 General . 32
6.2 Time period to which data refer . 32
6.3 Data estimated by sample . 32
7 Collecting statistical data .32
7.1 Libraries . 32
7.1.1 Counting administrative units and libraries . 32
7.1.2 Counting types of libraries . 33
7.2 Services and use . 35
7.2.1 General . 35
7.2.2 Users . 35
7.2.3 Lending services . 36
7.2.4 Interlibrary lending . 37
7.2.5 Reference and informational questions.39
7.2.6 Copying .40
7.2.7 Electronic document delivery (mediated) .40
7.2.8 External document supply .40
7.2.9 Events organized by the library .40
iii
7.2.10 Physical visits . 41
7.2.11 User orientation and training . 41
7.2.12 Use of digital resources and services . 42
7.2.13 Number of website visits. 43
7.2.14 Services for mobile devices .44
7.2.15 Social network services .44
7.2.16 Services for target populations with special needs . 45
7.3 Collection . 47
7.3.1 General . 47
7.3.2 Books and serials (printed material) . . 47
7.3.3 Manuscripts .48
7.3.4 Microforms .48
7.3.5 Cartographic documents .48
7.3.6 Printed music documents . .49
7.3.7 Audiovisual documents .49
7.3.8 Graphic documents . . .50
7.3.9 Patents .50
7.3.10 Other library documents and items . 51
7.3.11 eBooks. 51
7.3.12 Other digital documents . 52
7.3.13 Databases . 52
7.3.14 Current serials received (at the end of the reporting period; all formats:
print, microform, electronic) . 53
7.3.15 Multimedia documents .54
7.3.16 Free Internet resources .54
7.3.17 Documents in institutional repositories .54
7.3.18 Data in institutional research data repositories .54
7.4 Access and facilities . 55
7.4.1 Opening hours . 55
7.4.2 Days open . 55
7.4.3 User places . 55
7.4.4 Public access workstations . 55
7.4.5 Catalogue records.56
7.4.6 Reprographic facilities .56
7.4.7 eBook readers .56
7.4.8 Other equipment available for public use .56
7.4.9 Space . . .56
7.5 Management . . . 57
7.5.1 Cooperation . 57
7.5.2 Library staff research publications .58
7.5.3 Publications about the library .58
7.5.4 Preservation/conservation .58
7.5.5 Digitization .58
7.6 Funding and expenditure (during the reporting period) . 59
7.6.1 Operating (ordinary) expenditure . 59
7.6.2 Capital expenditure . 61
7.6.3 Income and funding . 61
7.7 Library staff (at the end of the reporting period) . 61
7.7.1 General . 61
7.7.2 Total staff . 61
7.7.3 Volunteers. 62
7.7.4 Age groups of staff . 62
7.7.5 Gender . 62
7.7.6 Staff training . 62
7.7.7 Professional education .63
7.7.8 Staff allocation to service areas/working areas .63
7.7.9 Staff allocation to special services .64
7.7.10 Library staff in institutional committees .66
iv
Annex A (informative) Recommended categories for further statistical analysis .67
Annex B (informative) Grossing up .79
Annex C (informative) Methods and problems of measuring digital usage .82
Annex D (informative) Alphabetical index .86
Bibliography .92
v
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards
bodies (ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out
through ISO technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical
committee has been established has the right to be represented on that committee. International
organizations, governmental and non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work.
ISO collaborates closely with the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of
electrotechnical standardization.
The procedures used to develop this document and those intended for its further maintenance are
described in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 1. In particular, the different approval criteria needed for the
different types of ISO documents should be noted. This document was drafted in accordance with the
editorial rules of the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2 (see www.iso.org/directives).
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of
patent rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights. Details of
any patent rights identified during the development of the document will be in the Introduction and/or
on the ISO list of patent declarations received (see www.iso.org/patents).
Any trade name used in this document is information given for the convenience of users and does not
constitute an endorsement.
For an explanation of the voluntary nature of standards, the meaning of ISO specific terms and
expressions related to conformity assessment, as well as information about ISO's adherence to
the World Trade Organization (WTO) principles in the Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT), see
www.iso.org/iso/foreword.html.
This document was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 46, Information and documentation,
Subcommittee SC 8, Quality — Statistics and performance evaluation.
This sixth edition cancels and replaces the fifth edition (ISO 2789:2013), which has been technically
revised.
The main changes are as follows:
— problems in the practical application of ISO 2789:2013 have been addressed;
— new development in library services have been taken into account.
Any feedback or questions on this document should be directed to the user’s national standards body. A
complete listing of these bodies can be found at www.iso.org/members.html.
vi
Introduction
This document provides guidance to the library and information services community on the collection
and reporting of statistics.
Clauses 3 and 7 form the core of this document. Clause 3 provides definitions for most of the elements
which constitute a library service; these are for statistical purposes only. Clause 7 recommends how
each of these elements should be counted. Users need to consult both clauses for the complete picture.
This document includes definitions and counting procedures for all types of resources and services that
libraries offer to their users.
It is recognized that not all measures specified in this document can be collected by libraries of different
types and sizes. To give greater completeness, several additional measures (important for some sectors
only) are described in Annex A. The aim is to ensure that, where a particular statistic is collected, the
same definitions and methods are used.
Annex B is important for the compilation and publication of national statistics so that they can be truly
comparable between countries and over time.
As the use of digital library services has become a main issue for showing the role and impact of
libraries, Annex C has been added, giving an overview of methods for measuring digital usage.
The strong requirement to describe and publicize library activities can only be satisfied if data
collection in libraries follows the lines of this document. As far as possible, it is advisable that libraries
collect all data named in this document that concern their activities.
Developments in relation to this document will be monitored and additional statistical measures will
be incorporated as needed.
An alphabetical index is given in Annex D.
vii
INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 2789:2022(E)
Information and documentation — International library
statistics
1 Scope
This document specifies rules for the library and information services community on the collection and
reporting of statistics:
— for the purposes of international reporting;
— to ensure conformity between countries for those statistical measures that are frequently used by
library managers, but do not qualify for international reporting;
— to encourage good practice in the use of statistics for the management of library and information
services.
2 Normative references
The following documents are referred to in the text in such a way that some or all of their content
constitutes requirements of this document. For dated references, only the edition cited applies. For
undated references, the latest edition of the referenced document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 11799, Information and documentation — Document storage requirements for archive and library
materials
3 Terms and definitions
For the purposes of this document, the following terms and definitions apply.
ISO and IEC maintain terminology databases for use in standardization at the following addresses:
— ISO Online browsing platform: available at https:// www .iso .org/ obp
— IEC Electropedia: available at https:// www .electropedia .org/
3.1 Library
3.1.1
academic library
library whose primary function is to cover the information needs of learning and research
Note 1 to entry: This includes libraries of institutions of higher education and general research libraries.
3.1.2
administrative unit
any independent library, or group of libraries, under a single directorate or a single administration
Note 1 to entry: The term "independent" does not imply legal or financial independence but only that the library
is a recognizably separate unit, typically within a larger organization.
Note 2 to entry: The administrative unit can be a single library or a larger organization, typically containing a
central/main library, branch libraries and administrative functions. See the Example in 7.1.1.
3.1.3
branch library
part of a larger administrative unit (3.1.2) providing, in separate quarters, a service for a particular user
group (e.g. children, faculties) or for a locally defined clientele
Note 1 to entry: Institute, departmental and other affiliated libraries are included. Mobile libraries and external
service points are excluded.
3.1.4
central library
main library
part or parts of an administrative unit (3.1.2) where centralized functions of administration, collections,
and services are located
Note 1 to entry: An administrative unit comprising several branch libraries does not necessarily include a central
library.
3.1.5
external service point
point away from library premises at which a certain service is regularly offered to users
Note 1 to entry: This includes places within a locality at which library material is deposited for informal
circulation to a restricted group of users but without other library services, for example, old people’s homes,
community centres, collections for hospital patients.
Note 2 to entry: This includes service points that offer digital services, but no print collections.
Note 3 to entry: Mobile libraries and their stops are not counted as external service points.
Note 4 to entry: A simple computer connection to a place outside the library (e.g. in a students' residence hall) is
not counted as an external service point.
3.1.6
library
organization, or part of an organization, whose main aim is to facilitate the use of such information
resources, services and facilities as are required to meet the informational, research, educational,
cultural or recreational needs of its users
Note 1 to entry: The supply of the required information resources can be accomplished by building and
maintaining a collection and/or by organizing access to information resources.
Note 2 to entry: These are the basic requirements for a library and do not exclude any additional resources and
services incidental to its main purpose.
3.1.7
library of an institution of higher education
library whose primary function is to serve students, academic and professional staff in universities and
other institutions of education at the third (tertiary) level and above
Note 1 to entry: It can also serve the general public.
Note 2 to entry: This is a type of academic library.
3.1.8
mobile library
library, sometimes a division of a public library (3.1.10), using transport means, motorised or not, to
provide documents and services directly to users as an alternative to access on library premises
EXAMPLE Motor vehicles, carts, ships, bicycles, donkeys
3.1.9
national library
library that is responsible for acquiring and conserving copies of all relevant documents published in
the country in which the library is located
Note 1 to entry: A national library will also normally perform some or all of the following functions: produce
the national bibliography; hold and keep up to date a large and representative collection of foreign literature
including documents about the country; act as a national bibliographic information centre; compile union
catalogues; supervise the administration of other libraries and/or promote collaboration; coordinate a research
and development service; etc.
Note 2 to entry: The definition of "national library" allows for more than one national library in a country.
3.1.10
public library
general library that is open to the public and that serves the whole population of a local or regional
community and is usually financed, in whole or in part, from public funds
Note 1 to entry: A public library is defined as open to the public, even if its services are primarily intended for a
particular part of the population to be served, such as children, visually impaired persons, or hospital patients.
Its basic services are free of charge or available for a subsidized fee. This definition includes services provided
to schools by a public library organization and services provided to public libraries in a region by a regional
organization.
3.1.11
school library
library attached to all types of schools below the third (tertiary) level of education whose primary
function is to serve the pupils and teachers of such a school
Note 1 to entry: A school library can also serve the general public.
Note 2 to entry: This includes libraries and resource collections in all educational institutions below the third
level, which can be described as "Colleges", "Colleges of Further Education", "Vocational Institutes", etc.
3.1.12
special library
independent library covering one discipline or particular field of knowledge or a special regional
interest
Note 1 to entry: The term "special library" includes libraries primarily serving a specific category of users, or
primarily devoted to a specific form of document, and libraries sponsored by an organization to serve its own
work-related objectives.
Note 2 to entry: The statistics of special libraries should be collected and presented separately for those in the
areas given in 3.1.12.1 to 3.1.12.7 (differentiated according to funding institutions).
3.1.12.1
government library
library maintained to serve any government service, department or agency, or parliament, including
both international, national and local (regional) government organizations
3.1.12.2
health service library
medical library
library which serves health service professionals in hospitals or elsewhere, whether in the private or
public sector
Note 1 to entry: Pharmaceutical company libraries are included under 3.1.12.4.
Note 2 to entry: These libraries can also include materials for patients.
3.1.12.3
library of professional and learned institutions and associations
library maintained by professional or trade associations, learned societies, trade unions and other
similar bodies, whose primary objective is to provide services to the members and practitioners of a
specific trade or profession
3.1.12.4
industrial and commercial library
library in any industrial enterprise or business firm, maintained by the parent organization to serve
the information needs of its staff
Note 1 to entry: The term "industrial and commercial library" includes libraries maintained by information and
management consultants, manufacturing and service industries and libraries of commercial legal practices.
3.1.12.5
media library
library serving media and publishing firms and organizations, including newspapers, publishers,
broadcasting, film and television
3.1.12.6
regional library
major library serving a particular region whose primary function cannot be described as that of a
public, school or academic library (3.1.1) nor as part of a national library network
3.1.12.7
other special library
any library not included elsewhere
EXAMPLE Library within voluntary organizations, museums, religious institutions.
3.1.13
storage library
library whose primary function is to store less-used material from other administrative units (3.1.2)
Note 1 to entry: Storage libraries that are part of or administrated by another library (e.g. national or regional
library) are excluded.
Note 2 to entry: Libraries whose stock remains the possession of the storing libraries are excluded. The
collections and their use are counted with the proprietary libraries.
3.2 Library services and use
3.2.1
access
successful request of a library-provided online service
3.2.2
access
right, opportunity, means of finding, using or retrieving information, of using a service, or
entering a building
[SOURCE: ISO 15489-1:2016, 3.1, modified — “of using a service, or entering a building” have been
added.]
3.2.3
active borrower
registered user who has borrowed at least one item during the reporting period
Note 1 to entry: This count underrates the number of active users, but is still for many libraries the only
manageable measure.
3.2.4
active user
registered user who has visited or made use of library facilities or services during the reporting period
Note 1 to entry: This includes active borrowers.
Note 2 to entry: This can include the use of digital library services, if it is possible to identify digital use and
virtual visits of the individual user, or if data can be obtained by means of surveys.
Note 3 to entry: If a library identifies non-registered active users, e.g. by surveys, these are counted separately.
3.2.5
blog
weblog
web page that provides frequent continuing publication of web links and/or comments on a particular
topic or subject (broad or narrow in scope), often in the form of short entries arranged in reverse
chronological order, the most recently added piece of information appearing first
Note 1 to entry: The information can be written or collected by the site owner or contributed by users.
3.2.6
browser
application allowing a person to retrieve and read hypertext, to view the contents of hypertext nodes
(Web pages), to navigate from one Web page to another, and to interact with the content, such as
changing the visual appearance of the displayed content
[SOURCE: ISO/IEC/IEEE 23026: 2015, 4.5]
3.2.7
caching
process of storing data in a temporary storage area on a mobile device, computer or server, so that
future requests for that data are served up faster than is possible by accessing the data's primary
storage location
3.2.8
client
soft- or hardware that can request specific services from a server
3.2.9
device detection
process of capturing accurate real-time intelligence about the devices being used to access online
information
3.2.10
digital service
library service delivered digitally, whether from local servers or provided via networks
Note 1 to entry: Digital library services include the online catalogue, the library website, the digital collection,
electronic lending, electronic document delivery (mediated), digital reference service, digitally delivered user
training, services for mobile devices, services for interactive use (including services on social networks), and
Internet access offered via the library.
Note 2 to entry: This does not include booking physical services (e.g. rooms or library tours) digitally.
3.2.11
diversity
characteristics of differences and similarities between people
Note 1 to entry: Dimensions of diversity are demographic or other personal characteristics, often expressed
statistically, for example, age, disability, sex, sexual orientation, gender, race, colour, nationality, ethnic or
national origin, religion or belief.
[SOURCE: ISO 30415:2021, 3.7]
3.2.12
download
successful request of a content unit from a library-provided online service or other internet service
3.2.13
educational services
learning sessions and learning materials and programmes in all formats for children and adults for the
purpose of enhancing skills in library and information use
Note 1 to entry: This includes the provision of services for schools and the cooperation with other libraries in
preparing and offering educational services.
Note 2 to entry: Education of librarians is excluded.
[SOURCE: ISO 21248:2019, 3.22]
3.2.14
electronic document delivery (mediated)
electronic transmission of a document or part of a document from the library collection to a user,
mediated by library staff, not necessarily via another library
Note 1 to entry: Electronic transmission of documents to members of the population to be served is included. Fax
transmission is excluded.
Note 2 to entry: May be split up as to transmission with or without charge to the user.
Note 3 to entry: Unmediated downloading by users from the digital collection of the library is excluded.
Note 4 to entry: The forms of lending and delivery services defined in this document are shown in Table 1.
Table 1 — Forms of lending and delivery services
Supplier Library Document supplier
Recipient User Other library User (via library)
Original Loan ILL EDS
Print copy Loan ILL EDS
Time-limited: EDD EDS
Transmission
Loan
format
Electronic
No time limit:
EDD
ILL: Interlibrary lending.
EDD: Electronic document delivery (mediated).
EDS: External document supply.
3.2.15
equity
principle that people should be subject to policies, processes and practices that are fair, as far as
possible, and free from bias
[SOURCE: ISO 30415:2021, 3.10]
3.2.16
event
pre-arranged activity with cultural, educational, social, political, scholarly, or other intent
EXAMPLE Exhibitions, author visits, literary discussions, workshops.
Note 1 to entry: Only events arranged by the library on its own or in partnership with other institutions are
included, whether inside or outside the library premises. Events inside the library premises organized by
institutions outside the library without the library’s cooperation are excluded.
Note 2 to entry: User training lessons and library tours are excluded.
Note 3 to entry: Ongoing programs are included. Each session of a program is counted as one event.
Note 4 to entry: Virtual events are included.
3.2.17
exhibition
time-limited display of objects, organized or co-organized by the library
Note 1 to entry: Exhibitions can take place inside or outside the library premises.
3.2.18
external document supply
document or part of it, in print or electronic form, delivered from outside the library collection by non-
library suppliers (not through interlibrary lending) with the library being involved in the transaction
and/or the payment
Note 1 to entry: It is irrelevant whether a number of individual transactions are paid per view or a certain number
of transactions have been prepaid.
Note 2 to entry: The forms of lending and delivery services defined in this document are shown in Table 1.
3.2.19
external user
user of a library who does not belong to that library’s population to be served
3.2.20
geolocation
process or technique of identifying the geographical location of a person or device by means of digital
information processed via the internet
Note 1 to entry: Frequently Global Positioning System (GPS) or related technologies are used for fixing geographic
positions.
3.2.21
inclusion
practice in which all individuals are treated fairly and respectfully, are valued for their distinctive
skills, experiences, and perspectives and have equal access to resources and opportunities
3.2.22
indirect user
non-registered user who uses library services via a registered user
3.2.23
informational question
directional and/or administrative inquiry delivered to library staff
Note 1 to entry: This includes, for example, questions for locating staff or facilities, questions regarding opening
times and registering procedures and questions about handling equipment such as printers or computer
terminals.
Note 2 to entry: The question can be delivered personally or by means of telephone, regular mail, fax or electronic
media (via email, the library website or other networked communication mechanisms).
Note 3 to entry: For reference questions, see 3.2.43.
3.2.24
in-house use
use of documents on the premises having been taken by a user from open access stock
Note 1 to entry: In-house use includes browsing at the shelves in the sense of a short investigation of the contents,
but excludes looking at the side or spine titles only for selecting material.
3.2.25
interlibrary loan
transaction of
...