Professional paper
Are performance indicators the only measure of the quality of libraries? : toward better evaluation of social goals of cultural institutions
Marina Mihalić
Abstract
The aim of the initiatives of the funding bodies in the USA and UK in the eighties, was to compel libraries to develop performance indicators, to show responsibility in spending public funds, and to prove good management. Some international library associations’ initiatives and projects resulted in writing handbooks and guidelines for assessing library activities or have initiated quantitative and qualitative research and analyses, aiming at continuous improvement of services and good practice. The pressure on libraries to report about their performance and efficiency measures, was not due only to economic reasons, but was paralelly initiated by users’ requests for new and more sophisticated library services and providing access to electronic resources, as well as the need for a considerable investment in new technologies. The paper gives a review of the quantitative evaluation of libraries and suggests implementation of measuring library achievements and their social impact as a new, qualitative approach.
Keywords
performance indicators; evaluation of social impact of libraries; levels of evaluation
Hrčak ID:
93680
URI
Publication date:
14.10.2012.
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