The evolution of Global Libraries’ performance measurement and impact assessment systems (original) (raw)
Related papers
Global Libraries impact planning and assessment progress: part 2
Performance Measurement and Metrics, 2019
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to report on recent performance measurement and impact evaluation progress made in Brazil, India, Indonesia, Moldova, Turkey and Vietnam as part of the last phase of the Global Libraries Initiative. Design/methodology/approach-The country reports are presented as a series of case studies, in some cases supplementing those reported earlier in this journal. Findings-Recent country-specific survey findings are reported and some conclusions are offered. Research limitations/implications-This paper demonstrates how the adoption of a common approach to library service evaluation across several countries can strengthen research practice at country level beyond the Global Libraries Initiative itself. Practical implications-This paper shares Global Libraries IPA learning at country level with people in other countries who may be contemplating public library evaluation at regional, national or local levels or who are interested in performance measurement and impact evaluation.
2015
This paper introduces the Global Libraries initiative (GL) of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and their focus on applying evidence of change, through a process of impact planning and assessment leading to advocacy. The authors describe the evolution of the GL approach to impact planning and assessment from the early stages of work with country grantees that focused primarily on performance measurement, through an increasing focus on assessing the impact of the program interventions on users and their lives, to the more recent work which has introduced a common impact measurement system (known as CIMS). They then describe the purpose and nature of CIMS and introduce the required and optional indicators across seven categories: digital inclusion, health, education, economic development, communication, culture & leisure, and government & governance. This part of the paper draws of the shared learning of the country teams engaged in the GL work and particularly the Impact Specialist...
Developing performance and impact indicators and targets in public and education libraries
International Journal of Information Management, 2001
The authors trace recent changes in the idea of evaluating performance in UK education and libraries and examine some of the di!erences in impact assessment between the two "elds; concluding that little attention has so far been given by librarians to service impact assessment. A process model for generating outcome/impact indicators and targets was developed in the course of research on the e!ectiveness of further education college libraries. This was then adapted into a development planning model to enable education library managers to work through the processes required to arrive at appropriate impact indicators. The model is described, various issues in working with the model are explored and its further adaptation for public library service managers through another national research project is reported.
Evaluation of Library Performance - Outcomes and Impact
1998
Measurement of library effectiveness is continuously actual: continued efforts to find ways to evaluate library effectiveness, include -quality improvement, benchmarking, performance measures and standards setting. Use of library performance measurement methods give possibilities to improve library performance effectiveness through using organisation management theory and helping libraries to better understand their organisations needs for innovation. Evaluation and a system of measures were intended to support: • Planning • Resource management • Operational function and service management • Promotion, marketing.
Recent developments in library evaluation, statistics and measurement - and why they are important
2014
This paper identifies six key changes in library evaluation over the past five years and suggests why they may be important for IFLA delegates. Deciding which changes to feature was difficult because library evaluation is a highly contentious area (as is evaluation more generally) and because practice across the world is partial, patchy and uneven. The authors summarize their choices by noting a gradual move in the library evaluation field towards deeper understanding of the nature and significance of evaluation. Their key propositions are that: the demand for evaluation expertise is beginning to outstrip supply; there is a technology-enabled shift in research and evaluation focus from the world of the library to the information world of potential library users; there is growing experience of conducting library impact evaluation across countries; there is a dawning recognition that sustaining impact evaluation efforts is a core element in ensuring sustainability of libraries; there ...
Libri, 1999
Based largely on a study of the literature, this article outlines the nature and purposes of performance evaluation in library and information systems in general. It further delineates the information scenario of developing countries and pinpoints the specific issues that performance evaluation could address in the library and information systems of these countries. It then raises the challenges that the library and information systems of developing countries face in conducting performance evaluation to achieve the expected benefits from it. The article identifies the following stumbling blocks: lack of awareness, cost of conducting the evaluation, shortage of staff and lack of methods and tools to em-ploy for the purpose. Methodological problems are identified as important. It concludes that the library and information systems in these countries have to develop their own methods and tools appropriate to their needs and relevant to their environment. It further discusses key issues in the development of the required framework such as assessing the environment and identifying what is important from the point of view of the system for the evaluation effort to focus on. The means of generating data usable for performance assessment and training as a means of improving the staff shortage and absence of awareness of the role of performance evaluation to address among the other challenges.
Global Libraries Impact Planning and Assessment Progress
The purpose of this paper is to report on performance measurement and impact assessment progress made in 14 countries as part of the Global Libraries initiative, starting with the early country grants in Mexico and Chile. For the mature grants in Bulgaria, Botswana, Poland, Romania, Ukraine and Viet Nam which were recently completed or are approaching completion, the nature of the country program is outlined, before the impact assessment work is described and some recent results and conclusions are reported. A similar approach is adopted with pilot and new grants in Colombia, Indonesia, South Africa, Turkey and Lithuania.
Innovative impact planning and assessment through Global Libraries
Performance Measurement and Metrics, 2015
Purpose-The purpose of this paper is to describe a range of innovative (for public library performance measurement and impact assessment) methods and tools developed by country teams as part of the Global Libraries (GL) initiative. Short reports are provided on: a return on investment study, a simplified data processing system for library managers and an online reporting system for public libraries in Ukraine; a study of the public image of Polish libraries in print mass media, two approaches to sustainability of performance measurement and impact assessment in Romania, through tools to conduct pop-up surveys and use of agricultural subsidies support data, assessments of changes in public library managers' planning efforts in Poland and of their perceptions of libraries and their own role, using Modified Delphi forecasting, in Lithuania, two ways of focussing on the world of public library users by engaging non-profit organizations in library research in Poland and conducting impact studies in virtual environments in Chile. Design/methodology/approach-A range of methods and tools and their uses are described. Findings-No specific research findings are reported. Research limitations/implications-All of these tools and methods have been (or are being) trialed in national public library contexts; some have been developed over several years. Practical implications-Useful for people in other (non-GL) countries who may be contemplating public library evaluation at regional, national or local level or who are interested in performance measurement and impact evaluation. Social implications-This paper is part of a GL effort to share what participants have learnt about impact planning and assessment in public libraries with the wider international libraries community.
Performance Measurement for Digital Library Services
Aim of this literature review is to draw a picture of past and current research on performance measurement, as applies to digital library services and, at large, to the digital environment, thus consisted of electronic information services and resources. The review starts with a statement of the topic and a tentative definition of digital library to be used as a comparing model for any attempt to measure its performance. A virtuous cycle of good library management puts users and the provision of quality services to the core of its values. Performance measurement supports this process. Assessment for digital library services is outlined in terms of use, services provided, costs, management tools, added value against the mission and goals of the institution. In the last decade, novelties brought about by the introduction of digital technologies in libraries have caused efforts converge to devise both new objective models of statistical data gathering and sets of sound reliable measure...