2007-03-29 17:41:03 -

CHAPEL HILL, N.C., March 29 /PRNewswire/ -- In a growing effort to provide greater services on tighter budgets, corporate librarians at Fortune 500 companies are shifting more and more of their resources to online content. A recent study of 24 Fortune 500 companies found that, on average, 48% of library budgets are earmarked for electronic resources and that half of all corporate library resources are available electronically at three quarters of the companies participating in the study. Additionally, 30% of the libraries provide more than ninety percent of their

content electronically-creating corporate libraries with a near-complete global virtual reach.

Conducted by Best Practices, LLC, the new study titled, "Corporate Library Services: Benchmarks & Insights for Management Effectiveness, "found that despite a trend toward greater electronic content, library services were available globally an average of only 9 hours a day. Virtual library services, such as intranet chat services were offered by only thirteen percent of the companies benchmarked. As libraries continue to move toward more e-content, virtual services are expected to rise.

For more on this study or to download a complimentary excerpt, click on the following link or paste it in your browser: http://www3.best-in-class.com/dr266.htm. The full study is available via membership to the Best Practice Database or for individual purchase. To learn more about this study or to access it via Database membership, contact: Tracy Hollister at 919-767-9225 or at thollister@best-in-class.com.

ABOUT BEST PRACTICES, LLC

Best Practices, LLC, is a benchmarking research firm that conducts work based on the principle that organizations can chart a course to superior economic performance by studying the best business practices, operating tactics and winning strategies of world-class companies. Visit our website at http://www.best-in-class.com/.

Source: Best Practices, LLC