Summary — Data, research and evidence
A summary of the ‘Data, Research and Evidence’ resources and tools to support libraries to more effectively illustrate the importance of library services, including the contribution they make to the wellbeing of people in Aotearoa.
Illustrating the value of libraries in Aotearoa
This initiative is part of a suite delivered through the New Zealand Libraries Partnership Programme to support the long-term sustainability of the libraries sector in Aotearoa. Early stakeholder engagement highlighted concerns about the time-limited nature of funding support and the need to consider ways to strengthen the sector for the longer term. In response, the Programme carried out a structured process (Investment Logic Mapping, ILM) with experienced sector members to identify key issues that threaten the health of the sector, and potential responses.
The process revealed three key problems and produced wide-ranging response options, which were then prioritised considering their relative cost, time needed to deliver and the impact on the problems identified. The resulting package of measures was widely supported by sector representatives. This DRE strategy is complemented by two further tools to support libraries.
Firstly, a self-assessment tool called the DRE Maturity Model. This tool can be used by individual libraries to assess their ability to collect, analyse, and use data, research and evidence. The tool supports applying the vision of this strategy.
Secondly, a tool to help libraries measure impact, called the Libraries Applied Impact Framework. This tool can help libraries show the difference libraries make from multiple perspectives (library user, host organisation, communities, Aotearoa); and to identify opportunities for further research and evidence collection.
It is intended that the DRE Strategy, DRE Maturity Model, and Libraries Applied Impact Framework are used together. This should help libraries improve their ability and help tailor research activities. In turn, it is hoped this this will support libraries to more effectively illustrate the importance of library services, including the contribution they make to the wellbeing of people in Aotearoa.
DRE strategy components
The DRE Strategy is a five-year strategy to guide the direction of both individual libraries and the libraries sector in collecting, analysing and using library-related data, research and evidence. It will help libraries show the difference they make and support the use of evidence when planning and making decisions. The Strategy summarises the vision for the sector, the areas to focus on, and the values to guide behaviour.
Vision
Capable connected and indispensable. Describes a view of the future; it sets out where the libraries sector wants to be and what it hopes to achieve through data, research, and evidence. This vision reflects the key function that libraries serve and the important contribution libraries make to the wellbeing of people living in Aotearoa. It imagines the positive impact of libraries reaching all people in an equitable and inclusive way.
Values
Outside ring of the diagrams shows our four values, future focussed, reciprocal relationships, stewardship and mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems.
The values guide the desired behaviours when implementing the strategy. Te Tiriti o Waitangi provides a foundation which all the actions and behaviours are enacted through. The other four values reflect the commitment of the libraries sector to these concepts and their desire to continue adding value to their communities, in a lasting way.
Focus areas
The four focus areas are storytelling and advocacy, collecting information , developing insights, and decision making and planning.
These are four interrelated focus areas to guide libraries’ efforts; these reflect the four key areas of data, research and evidence: collecting information,, developing insights, using information to plan and make decisions within the library, and using information to effectively communicate the difference libraries make to key stakeholders.
Outcomes
Each focus area has specific outcomes of what libraries will need to achieve in each focus area.
Long description — Strategic framework diagram
The DRE strategic framework has a central circle surrounded by a series of rings.
The central circle has the vision statement: ‘Capable, connected and indispensable — demonstrating library services are indispensable for all’.
This is surrounded by a ring of four arrows which has the words ‘collecting information’, ‘developing insights’, ‘decision making and planning’, and ‘storytelling and advocacy’— these are the four focus areas for the DRE Strategy.
The surrounding ring has four sections which contain the high-level outcome for each of the four focus areas:
Information collected can be used to show which services make the greatest impact for our communities, today and tomorrow
Develop a collection of evidence that shows the difference libraries make from multiple perspectives
Decision makers have the necessary information to support decision-making and planning processes
Stakeholders are persuaded of the importance of libraries through effective storytelling using evidence.
The outer two rings contain the values:
Te Tiriti o Waitangi
future focused
stewardship
reciprocal relationships, and
‘Mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems’
Applying the strategy — Maturity Model
Across the sector there is variation in library size, skills and resourcing. To support implementation of the DRE Strategy, we have developed a self-assessment tool (DRE Maturity Model) which explains the capability maturity levels for collecting, analysing and using information. Each library should use the DRE Maturity Model to assess their data, research and evidence maturity, and identify where to focus efforts to strengthen their approach. This aligns with the outcomes of the DRE Strategy and sets out that, within five years, all libraries should have achieved a ‘basic’ level of maturity and where possible a defined level of maturity which reflects a stretch target for the sector.
Long description — Maturity Model
Graph with heading Maturity Model, assessing our DRE capabilities.
The y axis is titled Information collection and usage maturity. The x axis is titled Sector capability.
From left to right on the y axis there are 5 levels. They are:
Level 1 — Ad Hoc
Limited understanding of how to collect, analyse and use information.
Started to build relationships with key stakeholders.
Limited skills and capacity available.
Processes are ad hoc and rudimentary.
Limited infrastructure in place.
Level 2 — Basic
Basic understanding of how to collect, analyse and use information.
Basic relationships with key stakeholders and occasionally collaborate with them.
Started to consult and collaborate with others in the libraries sector.
Basic understanding and application of Mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems that reflect the library community.
Basic skills and capacity available.
Rudimentary processes, procedures and infrastructure in place.
Level 3 — Defined
Good understanding of how to collect, analyse and use information.
Good reciprocal relationships with many key stakeholders and sometimes collaborate with them.
Sometimes consult and collaborate with others in the libraries sector.
Good understanding and application of Mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems that reflect the library community.
Good skills and capacity available.
Good processes, procedures and infrastructure in place.
Occasionally critically reflect on approach to communicating the impact of libraries to key stakeholders.
Level 4 – Managed
Comprehensive understanding of how to collect, analyse and use information.
Very good relationships with a variety of key stakeholders and often collaborate with them.
Often consult and collaborate with others in the libraries sector.
Very good understanding and application of Mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems that reflect the library community.
Very good skills, including Kaupapa Māori, and capacity available.
Very good processes and infrastructure in place.
Established standardised data definitions to collect information for national datasets which are used across the sector. These enable consistent approaches to be used.
Sometimes critically reflect on approach to communicating the impact of libraries to key stakeholders.
Level 5 – Leading
Excellent understanding of how to collect, analyse and use information to best effect.
Excellent relationships with a wide variety of key stakeholders and often collaborate with them.
Almost always consult and collaborate with others in the libraries sector.
Excellent understanding and application of Mātauranga Māori and other knowledge systems that reflect the library community.
Excellent level of skills, including Kaupapa Māori, with dedicated capacity.
Often provide thought leadership and/or support to the sector.
Sometimes collaborate with others in the sector, including leading projects.
Advanced processes and infrastructure in place.
Always critically reflect on approach to communicating the impact of libraries to key stakeholders.
There is a line after level 2 that says DRE Strategy Target. There is a line after Level 3 that says DRE Strategy stretch target.
June 2022
Download the Data, Research and Evidence Summary
Data, Research and Evidence Summary (pdf, 1.10MB)
Data, Research and Evidence Summary (ppt, 9.7MB)
