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Methodology
THE MODEL
The model developed for use in this case study was inspired by the article “Demonstrating Value and Return on Investment: The Ongoing Imperative,” by Roger Strouse of Outsell, Inc., which appeared in the March 2003 issue of Information Outlook published by the Special Libraries Association. This article describes three models: (1) time saved by library users, (2) money saved by library users, and (3) revenue generated when the library was used.
The revenue model states:
- x percent of survey respondents generated revenue using the library
- y percent of the instances when they used the library they generated revenue
- z is the median revenue generated with each library use
Each of these factors was multiplied to derive an amount of revenue generated for each library use.
The model as it is adapted for the academic environment employs parallel logic:
- x percent of faculty secure grants using citations in their proposals
- y percent of the grant proposals are successful
- z is the average size of the grant awarded using library resources
The model is extended to determine the return on the library budget from grant income.
This chart shows how the model was adapted to the academic environment.
Three factors that link the use of library resources to successful grant proposals are based on the following assumptions:
- Faculty use citations in grant proposals.
- Citations are important in the grant awards process.
- Citations come from resources provided by the library.
A faculty survey was conducted to determine the extent to which each of these factors applied at UIUC. This model highlights the use of library resources in securing grant income for research, which is one part of a larger set of benefits and costs that include tuition revenue related to teaching, the value of time saved by types of users, the external value of university research to the community, and use of library space by student groups.
DATA SOURCES AND DEFINITIONS
The criteria for the data used in the model were that it had to be reliable, practical to obtain, and externally available if possible, so that this case study could be easily replicated. Different departments in the university provided data on grant expenditures, grant proposals and awards, faculty, and principal investigators. The library’s total budget figure was taken from data published at the national level by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL).
Quantifying grant income using awards data is problematic as grants can be multiyear awards with income received over time or all at once, and they can be extended or renegotiated. The installation of software for managing grant awards affected the data at UIUC for 2004, which impacts trend lines. Data on grant expenditures were recommended because they are part of the university’s reporting system that accounts for the disposition of each grant. All types of grants (e.g., research, instruction, academic support, public service) that were awarded to colleges and schools across all disciplines were included from all sources (e.g., federal, state).
Data on the number of tenure system faculty and principal investigators were taken from the UIUC
campus profile at www.dmi.uiuc.edu. The decision was made to exclude the category of academic
professionals who are typically not involved in securing grants. For example, in 2006–2007, 1700 faculty
of the 2083 tenure system faculty (more than 80%) were principal investigators. Including the 3811
academic professionals would have skewed the results. 
