The Association of College & Research Libraries is the largest division of the ALA. Their website includes links to recent ACRL publications and reports, books and digital resources, and statistics and white papers.
The ALA Library Statistics website provides library fact sheets, quotable facts about America's libraries, and research on libraries and librarianship.
Various agencies of Colorado state government provide statistical data and related information on a large variety of topics. The web links included in this brief list will lead to additional resources. This is a quick information guide to selected print and electronic publications, as well as web sites, maintained by state agencies only. Many current and historical print publications on this topic are available to borrow from the State Publications Library.
The IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) website has data sets, publications, program evaluations, data analysis tools, evaluation resources and research guidelines.
Values, Outcomes, and Return on Investment of Academic Libraries (LibValue) was a three-year study funded by the Institute of Museum and Library Services to define and measure ways in which academic libraries create value through research, teaching and learning, and social, professional, and public engagement.
Find research and statistics, including data sets and publications about libraries and librarianship, in Colorado and the U.S. The LRS website also provides links to other resources, and tools such as the ROI (return on investment) calculator.
The National Center for Education Statistics sponsors a Library Statistics program , which offers publications, fast facts, data and tools about school libraries.
The Horizon Report: Library Edition "examines key trends, significant challenges, and emerging technologies for their potential impact on academic and research libraries worldwide" and is updated annually.
Annual "Trends" articles in industry journals, for example Chemical & Engineering News "Trends in Academic R&D Spending."
Theme articles in higher ed journals, for example the Chronicle of Higher Education's: "A new standard of measuring doctoral programs" (1/13/07, A8-A13).
State agency websites on higher education statistics, particularly on student demographics and graduation rates.
University websites, which may include budget, enrollment, and faculty or student demographics.
Includes indicators on elementary, secondary, and higher education, the labor force, industrial and academic R&D (both national and international), attitudes, and state indicators.
NSF's statistical data portal for science and engineering at U.S. academic institutions.
Educational Rankings
Various methodologies have been developed to rank institutions of higher education. The following include a few of the major systems as well as overviews about the systems.
Annual rankings published by the Center for World-Class Universities and the Institute of Higher Education of Shanghai Jiao Tong University, China. Includes rankings for engineering and math programs.
From the Carnegie Foundation for the Advancement of Teaching, leading framework for analyzing U.S. higher education institutions, with data back to 1970.
International ranking system for universities. Includes the top 50 universities for engineering and IT. As of 2010, rankings are based on the Global Institutional Profiles Project, launched by Thomson Reuters.