A comparative appraisal of operational efficiency in U.S. research-university libraries: A DEA approach

Abstract

Proper performance measurement is an important issue in library operational management. A data envelopment analysis (DEA) model is applied to evaluate the relative operational efficiency of 25 U.S. private research-university library members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Operations of each library decision-making unit are considered as a production process using four resource input and four service output variables. The model results are analyzed and compared with the efficient group and a peer group by using a t-test. The model provides decision-makers with more accurate information to implement better library services with appropriate resource allocation.

Citation

Lee, C.W., Kwak, N.K. and Garrett, W.A. (2013), "A comparative appraisal of operational efficiency in U.S. research-university libraries: A DEA approach", Applications of Management Science (Applications of Management Science, Vol. 16), Emerald Group Publishing Limited, Leeds, pp. 117-130. https://doi.org/10.1108/S0276-8976(2013)0000016010