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1 – 10 of over 7000
Article
Publication date: 10 November 2014

Susan A Henricks and Genevieve M. Henricks-Lepp

Public libraries can benefit from understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders leading to the development of measures for decision making and competing for funding as…

1631

Abstract

Purpose

Public libraries can benefit from understanding the perspectives of various stakeholders leading to the development of measures for decision making and competing for funding as well as demonstrating accountability. The purpose of this paper is to examine library effectiveness from the perspective of multiple stakeholders from a list of indicators pertinent to today and to determine which are most important to a constituency of a single library and any differences among the various constituencies.

Design/methodology/approach

A survey that listed indicators of effectiveness for a public library was given to four stakeholder groups of a city library: employees, library board, library foundation members, and the public.

Findings

Of the 51 indicators, 39 comprised eight dimensions of effectiveness under the labels of: user experience, facility, digital collection, social media and board, community use, employees, administration, and collection management. The number of statistically significant differences was greatest between the library board and the public as well as the employees and the public.

Originality/value

Indicators of public library effectiveness have not been updated for the twenty-first century.

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1983

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of

16238

Abstract

In the last four years, since Volume I of this Bibliography first appeared, there has been an explosion of literature in all the main functional areas of business. This wealth of material poses problems for the researcher in management studies — and, of course, for the librarian: uncovering what has been written in any one area is not an easy task. This volume aims to help the librarian and the researcher overcome some of the immediate problems of identification of material. It is an annotated bibliography of management, drawing on the wide variety of literature produced by MCB University Press. Over the last four years, MCB University Press has produced an extensive range of books and serial publications covering most of the established and many of the developing areas of management. This volume, in conjunction with Volume I, provides a guide to all the material published so far.

Details

Management Decision, vol. 21 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0025-1747

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 June 1992

Stephen Richard

Surveys the use of performance indicators in higher educationlibraries, arising from a study tour of the USA. Considers the purposesand use of performance indicators in relation…

Abstract

Surveys the use of performance indicators in higher education libraries, arising from a study tour of the USA. Considers the purposes and use of performance indicators in relation to missions and goals. Discusses costs in relation to what is to be measured and examines implementation of performance indicators in higher education libraries.

Details

Library Review, vol. 41 no. 6
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 May 1990

Arthur Midwinter and Murray McVicar

The political background in the United Kingdom leading to thedevelopment of performance indicators for public libraries is discussed.Corporate planning and value for money models…

Abstract

The political background in the United Kingdom leading to the development of performance indicators for public libraries is discussed. Corporate planning and value for money models are examined. A survey is reported of Scottish public library authorities and their use of performance indicators in relation to planning, budgeting and evaluation, and the development of public library objectives in Scotland is outlined. The major problems in applying performance measures to public libraries are considered.

Details

Library Review, vol. 39 no. 5
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2003

Melita Ambro˘zič

The paper discusses theoretical and practical approaches to the problems of assessing library performance and especially of measuring outcomes in the developing world, i.e. the…

1293

Abstract

The paper discusses theoretical and practical approaches to the problems of assessing library performance and especially of measuring outcomes in the developing world, i.e. the impact and value of the library services for their users and society as a whole. The importance of a systematic evaluation of a library’s activities and the use of modern management methods and tools is emphasized. The need for an appropriate management information system as one of the key elements for the library decision‐making process is demonstrated. The need to enable libraries in developing countries to implement national systems of library statistics is demonstrated. To do this it is important to educate the librarians to collect and use data effectively, to enable them to be able to make the transition from measuring inputs to measuring outputs, and to understand the possible methods and importance of measuring library outcomes.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 4 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 21 March 2008

Roswitha Poll

The purpose of this paper is to present the new edition of the IFLA handbook Measuring Quality that since its publication in 1996 has influenced performance measurement in many…

1720

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to present the new edition of the IFLA handbook Measuring Quality that since its publication in 1996 has influenced performance measurement in many countries.

Design/methodology/approach

The approach used is to acquaint librarians and information professionals with the present state of performance measurement and the different ways of assessing quality in specified library services.

Findings

Based on the research for the handbook, the paper presents an overview of today's performance measuring worldwide, as well in individual libraries as in joint library projects. Examples show typical varieties in measuring processes and results and possible methods for the evaluation of specified library services and products. The new edition widens the perspective to public libraries and adds indicators for electronic services and cost‐effectiveness. The 40 performance indicators in the handbook follow the structure of the Balanced Scorecard. Each indicator shows examples of results obtained in libraries and information about other possible methods.

Originality/value

A comprehensive overview and state‐of‐the‐art analysis of the core publications concerning performance measurement in libraries.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 9 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1989

Alec Gallimore

How management information is an essential requirement forassessing the performance of library services and how a managementinformation system (MIS) fits into the overall…

Abstract

How management information is an essential requirement for assessing the performance of library services and how a management information system (MIS) fits into the overall framework of management in an organisation is described. Stages in the design of an integrated MIS are discussed in turn, including an analysis of organisational information needs at the senior, middle and operational management levels. An appendix lists the type of questions which could be used in structured interviews in the investigative phase of the system design. Performance measures and indicators are described with reference to the performance review process favoured by the Audit Commission for public libraries. Software and hardware for a typical system are described, including estimated costs.

Details

Library Review, vol. 38 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0024-2535

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 27 March 2007

Roswitha Poll

The purpose of this paper is to show the effectiveness of using performance indicators on a national scale

1895

Abstract

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to show the effectiveness of using performance indicators on a national scale

Design/methodology/approach

The paper gives an overview of national projects and compares the methods used.

Findings

The paper finds that groups of libraries have tried to find consensus on a common set of performance indicators for benchmarking purposes. The indicators chosen for such projects differ between countries and types of libraries. The paper shows examples where sets of indicators are used on a national or regional scale on a regular basis and compares the indicators used and the methods of benchmarking.

Practical implications

The paper shows the difficulties of reaching an agreement when starting a common project and points to results and success of the projects and to problems that occurred in the benchmarking process.

Originality/value

The paper acquaints libraries with existing projects and helps to find adequate methods for different purposes.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 8 no. 1
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

Article
Publication date: 1 February 1979

John Allred

The thesis of this book is that library measurement needs to move on and away from the idea that it is a process of counting and comparing the resources deployed by our libraries

Abstract

The thesis of this book is that library measurement needs to move on and away from the idea that it is a process of counting and comparing the resources deployed by our libraries. The current emphasis on output measurement is an improvement but not the answer, refreshing as it is to judge a library by the quantity of what comes out instead of by the quantity of what is put in. The author believes that the nature of the library service is that of a “broad aim” social programme, best judged (evaluated) by gathering “politically significant information on the consequences of political acts”. “Political” here implies that the aims and intentions of those funding, organising and using libraries arise from more than one set of social values and from more than one definition of what the library is, and that they differ in priorities even when they do not directly conflict. Information about the library service will be in the form of a spectrum of measures reflecting the inputs, the processes, the outputs and the impact of the library, relating the various values in various ways. The difficulty in measuring library services, it is argued here, arises from the conflicts and lack of clarity about the aims of the service, and from uncertainty about how the process affects the outcomes. The technical problems of measurement are secondary. Chapter One aims to survey the range of measures available, whilst the rest of the book discusses how they might be used.

Details

Library Management, vol. 1 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 0143-5124

Article
Publication date: 1 August 2000

Zoe Clarke and Siån Lambert

Management information for decision making is an essential tool for library managers. This paper outlines the European Commission Libraries Programme decision support projects…

473

Abstract

Management information for decision making is an essential tool for library managers. This paper outlines the European Commission Libraries Programme decision support projects that were brought together under the CAMILE concerted action. The three common themes to emerge from the CAMILE projects are then discussed. The themes are: information for decision making, systems for decision support, and the future challenges of measuring impact and developing performance measures for the elec‐tronic library. To conclude, recommendations for future research in the field of decision support in European libraries are considered.

Details

Performance Measurement and Metrics, vol. 1 no. 2
Type: Research Article
ISSN: 1467-8047

Keywords

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