Libraries are custodians of invaluable information. The study - Library Services Benchmarks 2016: Corporate Library Services in the Pharmaceutical Industry published by Best Practices, LLC examines the trends and staffing benchmarks such as library staff per potential and actual users across companies providing access to library services across the bio-pharmaceutical space. This study looks into staff with formal education level and the number of staff inside and outside the library who provide library services. This study can be used by bio-pharmaceutical companies to improve upon existing library services and staffing. Download Full Report: http://bit.ly/29QZcbM

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Library Services Benchmarks 2016:
Corporate Library Services in the Pharmaceutical Industry
Best Practices, LLC Strategic Benchmarking Research & Analysis

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Table Of Contents
 Executive Summary pgs. 3-4
 Research Overview pg. 3
 Participating Companies pg. 4
 Key Findings pgs. 5-8
 Library Profile pgs. 9-15
 Library Services pgs. 16-23
 Human Resources pgs. 24-28
 Financial Resources pgs. 29-35
 Library Innovation pgs. 36-39
 Service Strategies pgs. 40-43
 About Best Practices, LLC pgs. 44-45

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Library Service Benchmark Research: Objectives & Topics
Best Practices, LLC conducted this benchmarking to develop 2016 benchmarks for selected services and
resources provided by libraries and information centers within the biopharmaceutical industry.
Topics Covered
Research
Methodology
Research
Overview
 Use of vendors in services delivery
 Financial resources
 Cost recovery practices
 Distribution of FTE hours by service
category
 Penetration of potential user base
 Library innovation & service
strategies
Best Practices, LLC engaged 17 leaders
from 16 top biopharmaceutical companies
through a benchmarking survey.
 This study was designed to help library and
information center leaders compare scope,
volume, cost, and delivery of library services
at their companies with those at other
organizations within the biopharmaceutical
industry.

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Universe Of Learning: 16 Companies Participated in Research
Sixteen companies participated in this benchmarking study. More than 80% of the companies
represented pharmaceutical industry. More than half of the participants are at director level.
Benchmark Class:

5. Key Findings
Few of the key findings and insights that emerged from this study:
 Average Cost: Benchmarked libraries spent an average of $8.7 million to provide services and
resources during the most recently completed fiscal year.
 People Allocation: Participants allocate the most FTE hours (average 23%) to electronic resource
management, followed by reference and research at 20% and analytical & value added services at
19% respectively. Print-related services took only 3% of hours for benchmark participants. Several
libraries indicated they no longer manage any print resources.
 Renewal Agreement Negotiations: Majority of libraries expect less than 5% increase annually while
renewing agreements with vendors. While negotiating renewals with vendors half of them expect a
discount on annual fees. The contract renewal discussion begins 1-3 months prior to subscription
date at 47% of companies.
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N=16
Participants Job Title
This research features insights from a range of leaders handling library services. More than half of
respondents serve as a director, while around 39% of participants are managers or head of library
services.
Universe Of Learning: Insights Drawn From Host Of Pharma Experts
% respondents
Q1) Please provide the following contact information so that we may send you the survey results.
Director, 56%
Senior Manager,
13%
Manager, 13%
Head, 13%
Others, 5%*
*Others: Principal Knowledge Scientist

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Labor Distribution
On average, 23% and 20% of all library staff hours were allocated to electronic resource management and
reference & research services among participating libraries and information centers. Value added
services took another 19% of staff time, and print collections—the smallest category—used only 3%.
FTE Hours Allocated by Process
Q 15 ) What percentage of total library FTE hours did each of the following labor categories require? (Note: processes &
services included in each category are included in the Services Checklist question on the previous page.)
Reference &
Research , 20%
Analytical & Value-
Add Services, 19%
Print/ Physical
Collections, 3%Electronic
Resources
Management, 23%
Website
Development &
Management, 10%
Knowledge
Management and
Internal Documents,
5%
User
Outreach/Marketing
activities, 15%
All Other , 5%
% respondents
N=15

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N=13
Total Library Organization Cost
Participating libraries spent an average of $8.7 million to provide services and resources during the most
recently completed fiscal year. Costs ranged from $1 million to $25 million across the benchmark class.
Total Library Organization Cost
$14,000,000
$8,718,846
$6,000,000
$2,700,000
$-
$2,000,000
$4,000,000
$6,000,000
$8,000,000
$10,000,000
$12,000,000
$14,000,000
$16,000,000
75th Percentile Mean Median 25th Percentile
Q 21 ) What was the total cost of providing library services and resources in your most recently completed fiscal year?

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N=15
Strategy-Managing Contract Expenses
At two-thirds of companies average expected rate of increase each year is below 5%.
Rate of Increase for Agreement Renewals with Vendors
% respondents
Q 23 ) When negotiating renewal agreements with vendors, what is the average expected rate increase on an annual basis?
Under 5%,
67%
Between 5-10
%, 20%
Other , 13%
*Others: Between 3-5%, Discounts from
previous year where possible
*

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Best Practices®, LLC is an internationally recognized thought leader in the field of best practice
benchmarking®. We are a research, consulting, benchmark database, publishing and advisory firm that
conducts work based on the simple yet profound principle that organizations can chart a course to superior
economic performance by leveraging the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of
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