Cost efficiency and service effectiveness for university e-libraries in Taiwan

Abstract

Purpose

The aim of this paper is to construct a model of cost efficiency and service effectiveness for a university e-library to allocate e-resources cost and to attain quality of service enhancement and cater to the needs of readers with existing e-resources.

Design/methodology/approach

The paper establishes an assessment model for the cost efficiency and service effectiveness of a university e-library in Taiwan. It then proceeds with an empirical study and analysis of related data collected from e-libraries of 16 universities. A discussion of the results of the study and suggestions for the adjustment of the university e-libraries follows.

Findings

The paper combines two models of cost efficiency and service effectiveness for the first time to analyze and consider the output results created by the input cost of university e-libraries in Taiwan and their utilization by readers.

Originality/value

The paper builds a figure for the relationship of e-library cost efficiency and service effectiveness at 16 universities in Taiwan and then divides it into four types.

Citation

Hsieh, L.-F., Chin, J.-B. and Wu, M.-C. (2014), "Cost efficiency and service effectiveness for university e-libraries in Taiwan", The Electronic Library, Vol. 32 No. 3, pp. 308-321. https://doi.org/10.1108/EL-10-2011-0146