Council of Prairie and Pacific University Libraries
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Return on Investment (ROI) Task Group

Terms of Reference The Return on Investment (ROI) Task Group will actively support the COPPUL strategic framework goal of demonstrating the value of the library to the university by identifying a common set of library and university metrics as a foundation for ROI projects developing knowledge of current and emerging practices in library assessment with an emphasis on communicating value and calculating ROI identifying areas of potentially high and low return on investment and developing ROI methodologies to help libraries communicate value to key stakeholders and make evidence-based decisions about priorities and funding aligning ROI projects with the values of parent institutions and communicating outcomes in ways that are meaningful to key stakeholders The Return on Investment (ROI) Task Group was formed in March 2011 to identify ROI initiatives that would benefit COPPUL libraries.  Initial membership consisted exclusively of library directors.  At the Spring 2012 meeting the Directors agreed to renew Task Group membership by inviting library professionals directly involved in assessment.  The revised Task Group first met in January 2013 and will report to Directors at least once a year via written report to a Board meeting, and more frequently as needed or requested. Working definition of ROI To help focus its work the Task Group uses the following working definition of ROI: “The basis of ROI studies is to quantify and demonstrate the library’s economic value to the institution. For every dollar spent on the library, the university receives dollars back in the form of additional grants income or donations, or long term value to the community from an educated work force, more productive faculty and more successful students and graduates. ROI must be articulated within the mission and objectives of the specific institution.” (Tenopir, 2009; Measuring the Value and Return on Investment of Academic Libraries, p11.) While the definition above emphasizes economic value to the institution, ROI also includes “values of all types that come to stakeholders and the institution from the library’s collections, services, and contribution to its communities.” (Fleming-May, Fritzler, Radom, 2012; presentation from the LibValue Project). Return on Investment (ROI) Task Group Members Jeremy Buhler (University of BC) co-chair Allison Sivak (University of Alberta) co-chair Jane Duffy (Grant MacEwan University) Chelsea Garside (University of Victoria) Kristen Kruse (University of Manitoba) Kathleen Reed (Vancouver Island University) For more information, contact: Jeremy Buhler or Allison Sivak