How do you justify library subscriptions?

1 Assess your collection

The first step to justify your library subscriptions is to assess your current collection and identify your strengths, gaps, and usage patterns. You can use various tools and methods to collect and analyze data, such as usage statistics, cost-per-use, citation analysis, collection mapping, surveys, or focus groups. By assessing your collection, you can determine which subscriptions are most relevant, valuable, and cost-effective for your patrons, and which ones may need to be canceled, renegotiated, or replaced.

2 Align with your mission

The second step to justify your library subscriptions is to align them with your library's mission, vision, and strategic plan. You can use these documents to articulate how your library supports your organization's goals, objectives, and priorities, and how your subscriptions contribute to your library's outcomes and impact. For example, you can show how your subscriptions enable your patrons to access authoritative and diverse sources of information, enhance their research and learning skills, or improve their academic or professional performance.

3 Showcase your value

The third step to justify your library subscriptions is to showcase your value and impact to your stakeholders. You can use various formats and channels to communicate your message, such as reports, presentations, newsletters, infographics, testimonials, or stories. You can also use different metrics and indicators to demonstrate your value and impact, such as user satisfaction, feedback, testimonials, success stories, or case studies. You can also use benchmarks and comparisons to highlight your achievements and challenges, such as peer reviews, best practices, or standards.

4 Engage your community

The fourth step to justify your library subscriptions is to engage your community and build relationships with your stakeholders. You can use various strategies and tactics to involve and inform your stakeholders, such as consultations, collaborations, partnerships, or advocacy campaigns. You can also use various platforms and media to reach and interact with your stakeholders, such as social media, blogs, podcasts, webinars, or events. By engaging your community, you can increase their awareness, appreciation, and support of your library and its subscriptions.

5 Monitor and evaluate

The fifth step to justify your library subscriptions is to monitor and evaluate your progress and results. You can use various tools and methods to measure and report on your performance and outcomes, such as dashboards, scorecards, indicators, or feedback loops. By monitoring and evaluating your efforts, you can identify what works and what doesn't, what needs to be improved or changed, and what are the best practices and lessons learned. You can also use this information to inform your future decisions and actions.

6 Adapt and innovate

The sixth step to justify your library subscriptions is to adapt and innovate in response to changing needs, expectations, and opportunities. You can use various approaches and techniques to explore and experiment with new ideas, solutions, or models, such as environmental scanning, horizon scanning, scenario planning, or prototyping. By adapting and innovating, you can anticipate and respond to emerging trends, challenges, and opportunities, and ensure that your library and its subscriptions remain relevant, valuable, and sustainable.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?