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Top Ten Reasons to Use an Information Center
*Note: The following is from our archived collection of older documents, and may not reflect the most current information.
Top Ten Reasons to Use an Information Center
10. You will get valuable information to help you make decisions. In a recent survey, 80 percent of the executives and managers who responded felt that the information provided by their special librarians helped them choose a course of action. 9. You will get more accurate information. Beware if you're getting your information from the Internet! Studies and reports have shown that a large amount information made available through free Internet sites originates through sources lacking credibility. Special libraries exist to eliminate questions of accuracy. 8. You will make better decisions. In a survey, 75 percent of the executives who responded agreed that the information they received from their special library helped them avoid making a poor decision. 7. You will save time. In a recent survey, approximately 66 percent of the respondents agreed that the information supplied by their special library helped them avoid wasting their own time and other people's time. 6. You will be more productive. By taking advantage of your library's services, you will be able to devote your time to your primary job instead of searching for needed information. At one medium-sized company, the professional staff members estimated that they each would have to spend an average of 94 hours a year gathering information - if there were no library. And in another study, using five productivity measures (such as volume of formal writing and oral presentations), frequent library users were found to be more productive than infrequent users. 5. You will get your work done. In a survey at one company, 90 percent of the respondents reported that visits to their special library were helpful in accomplishing the work task for which they went to the library. And 40 percent stated they couldn't have done their work without using the library. 4. You will do better work. In studies at numerous organizations, including several Fortune 100 companies, more than half of the employees surveyed reported that information provided by their special library resulted in improved work. 3. You might even become a "fast-tracker." In one study, specific employees were identified as achievers because they received special awards or had been selected to serve on important committees or problem-solving teams. On average, these achievers used their special library more frequently than did their non-achieving peers. At one company, 25 employees were identified as "fast trackers." Compared to colleagues with similar backgrounds (education, number of years with the company, total work experience, etc.), the "fast trackers" were found to use the library substantially more than their peers did. 2. You will contribute to knowledge sharing within your organization. So often, employees in a company "re-invent the wheel" to accomplish tasks or complete projects or proposals. By working with the special library in your organization, you can help save time and money when a colleague needs the same information you've already obtained. And you'll probably save someone else a lot of effort. 1. You will save money. Studies have proven that funding an organizational library requires roughly one-third of the cost required for professionals to obtain information from other sources. Sources: Jose-Marie Giffiths and Donald W. King, Increasing the Information Edge, SLA, Joanne G. Marshall, The Impact of the Special Library on Corporate Decision-Making, SLA.
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