The Annual Report, Indicator of Library Transparency

Abstract

This article addresses the annual reports published by Spanish university libraries on theirwebsites. Report form and content were analyzed, along with availability, timing and pos-ition on the library's website with the concomitant visibility and accessibility. Althoughsome of the items included (collection, services, staff, premises and facilities) were found tobe the same year after year, the degree of detail furnished was observed to vary. New sub-jects were also identified: partnering, cooperation, communication, marketing, dissemination,presence in social networks and libraries'impact on their surrounds. Annual reports andtheir dissemination among stakeholders are recommended as an exercise in accountabilityand management transparency.