National data sets and calculating percentile ranks: A guide for benchmarking library collection spending

Abstract

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.