Viewing library metrics from different perspectives : inputs, outputs, and outcomes

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Where to find it

Information & Library Science Library

Call Number
Z669.8 .D84 2009
Status
Available

Law Library — 1st Floor Collection (1st floor)

Call Number
Z669.8 .D84 2009
Status
Available

Summary

This guidebook shows academic libraries how to use innovative new performance metrics to achieve greater accountability and higher levels of service.

Viewing Library Metrics from Different Perspectives: Inputs, Outputs, and Outcomes helps academic librarians go well beyond the basic guideposts of inputs and outputs to explore a wide range of metrics for measuring their effectiveness and improving performance. Based on their groundbreaking article, "Outcomes Assessment: Not Synonymous with Inputs and Outputs," Robert Dugan and Peter Hernon, along with coauthor Danuta Nitecki, give libraries the tools they need to see beyond their own walls and interpret both outcome and impact metrics from the perspective of the parent institution, the customer, and the stakeholder, as well as the library itself.

Viewing Library Metrics from Different Perspectives makes a convincing argument for targeting the right audience with the right metric. The first three chapters introduce key concepts and the relevant literature, and helps libraries make the crucial distinction between assessment and evaluation. Chapters four through nine examine the four perspectives and their attendant metrics. The final chapters discuss how best to present and interpret the results.

Contents

  • Illustrations p. ix
  • Preface p. xi
  • Acknowledgments p. xvii
  • 1 Introduction p. 1
  • Information Needs p. 2
  • Transparency p. 5
  • Applying Metrics p. 8
  • Academic Libraries p. 14
  • Conclusion p. 19
  • Notes p. 20
  • 2 Related Literature p. 23
  • Use of the World Metric p. 24
  • Historical Context p. 25
  • Relevant Guides, Manuals, and Other Major Works p. 27
  • Other Lists of Metrics p. 28
  • Scholarly Writings p. 29
  • Some Relevant Web Sites and Software p. 36
  • Conclusion p. 37
  • Notes p. 38
  • 3 Assessment and Evaluation p. 45
  • The Institution p. 46
  • Academic Libraries p. 55
  • Moving toward Standardized Statistical Gathering p. 70
  • Conclusion p. 71
  • Notes p. 72
  • 4 The Library Perspective p. 77
  • Traditional Inputs and Outputs p. 78
  • E-metrics p. 80
  • Development of Metrics Based on Perceptions p. 83
  • Strategies for Using Library Metrics p. 85
  • Professional Development Is Needed p. 90
  • Conclusion p. 92
  • Notes p. 93
  • 5 The Customer Perspective p. 99
  • Types of Customers p. 99
  • Excellence in Customer Service p. 101
  • Types of Questions Relevant to Measurement p. 103
  • Customer Expectations p. 106
  • Reliability as a Customer Expectation p. 111
  • Methods of Data Collection p. 112
  • Conclusion p. 114
  • Notes p. 115
  • 6 The Institutional Perspective p. 117
  • Institutional Metrics (in General) p. 118
  • Institutional Metrics to Which Libraries Can Contribute p. 120
  • Conclusion p. 127
  • Notes p. 127
  • 7 The Stakeholder Perspective p. 131
  • Accountability p. 132
  • Affordability p. 141
  • Transparency and Comparative Metrics p. 152
  • Advocacy p. 156
  • Conclusion p. 157
  • Notes p. 158
  • 8 Benchmarking and Best Practices p. 165
  • Differentiating More between Benchmarking and Best Practices p. 167
  • Best Practices p. 169
  • Convergence p. 171
  • Quantitative Metrics p. 172
  • Qualitative Metrics p. 172
  • Planning for the Future p. 173
  • Conclusion p. 174
  • Notes p. 174
  • 9 Metrics for Marketing and Public Relations p. 177
  • Types of Metrics p. 179
  • Methods of Evaluation p. 184
  • Strategies for Using Metrics p. 188
  • An Agenda for Conducting Further Research p. 191
  • Conclusion p. 192
  • Notes p. 192
  • 10 Management Information Systems p. 197
  • Characteristics of Metrics p. 198
  • MIS Activities p. 199
  • The Sawyer Library p. 202
  • Other Applications p. 205
  • Supplementing the MIS p. 207
  • Conclusion p. 207
  • Notes p. 208
  • 11 Utilizing Metrics: Interpretation, Synthesis, and Presentation p. 211
  • Interpretation p. 212
  • Synthesis p. 216
  • Presentation p. 221
  • Conclusion p. 232
  • Notes p. 235
  • 12 The Joy of Metrics p. 239
  • Grounding of Purpose p. 239
  • Satisfaction of Improvement and Knowledge of Excellence p. 241
  • Importance of Sharing p. 242
  • Reward of Impact p. 243
  • Challenges of Engagement p. 244
  • Conclusion p. 246
  • Notes p. 248
  • Appendix: Metrics Analysis p. 249
  • About the Appendices p. 251
  • A Inputs: Library Perspective (reported as numbers) p. 253
  • B Inputs: Library Perspective (reported as ratios/percentages) p. 259
  • C Outputs: Library Perspective (reported as numbers) p. 265
  • D Outputs: Library Perspective (reported as ratios/percentages) p. 269
  • E Selected Examples of Process Metrics p. 272
  • F Selected Examples of Trend Metrics p. 274
  • G Examples of Qualitative Metrics p. 277
  • H Customer Perspective p. 279
  • I Institutional Perspective p. 283
  • Table I-1 Librarians Should Be Aware of These Institutional Metrics and Their Implications Concerning the Library p. 283
  • Table I-2 Measures of, or from, the Library about Value to the Institution p. 286
  • J. Stakeholder Perspectives (Examples) p. 289
  • Table J-1 Stakeholders Directly/Indirectly Benefiting from the Library p. 289
  • Table J-la Library Infrastructure and Capacity p. 289
  • Table J-lb Library Contribution to Outcomes p. 290
  • Table J-1c Library Contribution to Satisfaction p. 291
  • Table J-2 Stakeholders with Oversight Interest in the Library p. 292
  • K Selected Metrics Used by Libraries for Benchmarking and Best Practices p. 295
  • L Marketing and Public Relations p. 299
  • M Selected Metrics from Library Reports p. 301
  • N Some Metrics Related to Scholarly Communication p. 306
  • O Counter Code of Practice, Release 3 (August 2008) p. 309
  • Bibliography p. 311
  • Index p. 335

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