Studying the value of library and information services in corporate environments: Progress report

We present a summary of results from a study sponsored by the Special Libra ries Association whose objective was to develop a taxonomy for studying val ue-in-use of library and information services in corporations. We treat val ue as a multidimensional concept and we isolate key dimensions of value as perceived and assessed by users. To obtain the data we interviewed 218 user s from 10 corporations after they used a service from the special library i n their corporation. We analyzed the texts of answers and categorized them into a faceted structure. The result is a Derived Taxonomy of Value of Use of Library and Information Services in Corporate Environments. The entries in the Taxonomy can be adapted in instruments for studying value in specifi c corporate situations. We make suggestions for application. This is the se cond in a series of such value-in-use studies. The first one concentrated o n an academic library environment and its users and this second study conce ntrates on corporate library and its users. Similarities and differences be tween the two studies are discussed.