Demonstrating RoI in the library: The Holy Grail search continues

Abstract

Article type: Viewpoint. Purpose: This article examines approaches by academic libraries in demonstrating return on investment (RoI). Design/Methodology/Approach: As a participant in a recent international RoI study, the author reviews the various difficulties in developing a suitable methodology. Findings: Using grant income as the basis for demonstrating RoI, it was found that wide differences in results may be attributable to a number of factors related to the parent organization, the availability of grant funding and the country of the study. Research limitations/implications: Further work is necessary to arrive at a suitable methodology for a diverse range of academic libraries. Practical implications: Library managers are alerted to issues and problems surrounding the development of return on investment methodologies. Originality/value of paper: This paper will prove useful to librarians considering investing time and other resources in developing methodologies for demonstrating return on investment.