Measuring for Results: The Dimensions of Public Library Effectiveness

(Paperback)

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Description

Librarians have historically relied on the perceived value or goodness of the public library as a means to garner financial support. Yet it is now becoming apparent that public libraries must demonstrate, using an acceptable methodology, the economic value of the library and its services. A compendium of valuable information about the research and literature surrounding this issue of demonstration, this book reviews the various approaches that have been used in assessing the public library's value. Matthews suggests methods for a library to develop better means of communicating with their funding decision-makers and other stakeholders. By analyzing input, process, and output measures, and combining these with measures of the economic and social benefits produced by the library, he offers a portfolio of approaches that enable today's librarian to both measure effectiveness and to communicate its value to its stakeholdersthe communities it serves.

Reviews

[A] useful overview of the approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of public libraries....The book is useful for indentifying measures and indicators, clarifying approaches to evaluation, and indicating how library measures can be used to make a case for the social and economic value of public libraries.-The Library Quarterly
[A] useful, succinct, at times insightful, overview of the appoaches that have been taken to assess the value of public libraries; and while doing so emphasizes the importance of establishing a culture of assessment. It is recommended reading for public librarians, and I will be adding it to the readings for my course on the measurement and evaluation of library resources and services.-Library & Information Science Research
[A]ddresses how to demonstrate effectiveness from the perspective of the user, assesses the importance of well-crafted mission statements and stategic plans, and discusses measures of economic and social benefits produced by the library.-American Libaries
[A]n excellent introduction to the many and varied methods of measuring social and economic impacts of public services on individual users and on communities....Public library managers will find this work to be a useful tool.-Library Journal
Joseph Matthews leaves no question in his reader's mind that meaningful measures of a library's successes and shortcomings are essential. ...This guide will help a librarian to develop an assessment and planning tool capable of illustrating a library's value for its stakeholders, indicating future trends, and suggesting appropriate planning goals.-Technical Services Quarterly
Matthews offers a candid illustration of some of the problems that face the library service in assessing performance currently, including the bureaucracy of its staff, and the problems associated with a laissez-faire approach to assessment which is rife in government assessment policy to various degrees all around the world today.-Performance Measurement & Metrics Journal
"A useful overview of the approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of public libraries....The book is useful for indentifying measures and indicators, clarifying approaches to evaluation, and indicating how library measures can be used to make a case for the social and economic value of public libraries."-The Library Quarterly
"A useful, succinct, at times insightful, overview of the appoaches that have been taken to assess the value of public libraries; and while doing so emphasizes the importance of establishing a culture of assessment. It is recommended reading for public librarians, and I will be adding it to the readings for my course on the measurement and evaluation of library resources and services."-Library & Information Science Research
"Addresses how to demonstrate effectiveness from the perspective of the user, assesses the importance of well-crafted mission statements and stategic plans, and discusses measures of economic and social benefits produced by the library."-American Libaries
"An excellent introduction to the many and varied methods of measuring social and economic impacts of public services on individual users and on communities....Public library managers will find this work to be a useful tool."-Library Journal
"[A] useful overview of the approaches for evaluating the effectiveness of public libraries....The book is useful for indentifying measures and indicators, clarifying approaches to evaluation, and indicating how library measures can be used to make a case for the social and economic value of public libraries."-The Library Quarterly
"[A]ddresses how to demonstrate effectiveness from the perspective of the user, assesses the importance of well-crafted mission statements and stategic plans, and discusses measures of economic and social benefits produced by the library."-American Libaries
"[A]n excellent introduction to the many and varied methods of measuring social and economic impacts of public services on individual users and on communities....Public library managers will find this work to be a useful tool."-Library Journal
"Joseph Matthews leaves no question in his reader's mind that meaningful measures of a library's successes and shortcomings are essential. ...This guide will help a librarian to develop an assessment and planning tool capable of illustrating a library's value for its stakeholders, indicating future trends, and suggesting appropriate planning goals."-Technical Services Quarterly
"Matthews offers a candid illustration of some of the problems that face the library service in assessing performance currently, including the bureaucracy of its staff, and the problems associated with a laissez-faire approach to assessment which is rife in government assessment policy to various degrees all around the world today."-Performance Measurement & Metrics Journal
"[A] useful, succinct, at times insightful, overview of the appoaches that have been taken to assess the value of public libraries; and while doing so emphasizes the importance of establishing a culture of assessment. It is recommended reading for public librarians, and I will be adding it to the readings for my course on the measurement and evaluation of library resources and services."-Library & Information Science Research

Author Bio

JOSEPH R. MATTHEWS is an internationally renowned on library automation and information systems, and president of his consulting company, Matthews and Associates, Carlsbad, California.