Measuring Quality. Performance Measurement

Conceptualising Benefits of User-Centred Design for Digital Library Services

“…Moreover, Public Value management is not just about controlling the resources, but also about controlling the created outcome, i.e., the values and benefits for the citizens and all other stakeholders of public services (O'Flynn, 2007). This approach is not far from the performance and impact evaluation that libraries are familiar with: the "fitness for purpose" evaluation (Poll & te Boekhorst, 2007).…”

“…For decades, libraries have developed and used performance indicators that show the quality of their resources and services (Hernon, Altman, & Dugan, 2015;Poll & te Boekhorst, 2007;Renard, 2007). The international standard ISO 11620:2014 (International Organization for Standardization, 2014) provides a framework for monitoring and assessing the success of library activities, both in the physical and digital realm.…”

Are African libraries active participants in today's knowledge and information society?

“…This study revealed that libraries are poorly funded, with budgets that are either non-existent, declining or rarely honoured; collection development is often either minimal or non-existent; there is too much expenditure on staff (some libraries are overstaffed) at the expense of acquisitions; there is overdependence on [foreign] external funding, which is estimated to be as high as 90-100% in some libraries; ICTs aren't sufficiently utilised and networks suffer poor connectivity; and resource sharing is not a common practice. Reggie Raju from the University of Stellenbosch Library and Jayarani Raju (2009) from Durban University of Technology LIS Department, in their discussion on the issues and challenges facing academic libraries, while agreeing with studies focusing on this library category, recommend benchmarking for academic libraries (see Poll, Boekhorst & Mundt 2007). The two authors reiterate that cost reduction, income generation, resource sharing, rational staffing, ICT application and the reduction of donor dependency engender sustainability and therefore require everyone's critical attention.…”

Evaluación de bibliotecas nacionales: elaboración de una normativa internacional y su aplicación en la <i>Biblioteca Nacional de España</i>

“…La descripción del indicador no incluye algunos de los campos que incorpora la norma 11620:2008 -el alcance del indicador, las fuentes y los indicadores relacionados-, e introduce otros nuevos -el contexto y los ejemplos y lecturas adicionales-que se han adoptado de la propuesta utilizada en la segunda edición del Manual de la IFLA (Poll;Boekhorst, 2007).…”