Output Measures For Public Libraries

The output measures defined in this manual address aspects of service such as library use, materials use, materials availability, document delivery, reference services and programme attendance. Methods for obtaining accurate data are described in detail and blank worksheets and tally logs are given where appropriate to assist in collecting and manipulating data.

This manual has been designed as a practical guide to quantifying and measuring the results, or outputs, of public library service to children. The basic output measures presented are tailored to reflect library services to children (defined as persons 14 years old and younger) and their care givers. Six categories of measures are presented: (1) library use (children's library visits per child, building use by children, and furniture/equipment use by children); (2) materials use (circulation of children's materials per child, in-library use of children's materials per child, and turnover rate of children's materials); (3) materials availability (children's fill rate, homework fill rate, and picture book fill rate); (4) information services (children's information transactions per child and chldren's information transaction completion rate); (5) programming (children's program attendance per child); and (6) community relations (class visit rate, child care center contact rate, and annual number of community contacts). The first of three parts of the manual provides an overview of measurement and evaluation, basic information about statistics and data collection and analysis, and suggestions for managing the measurement effort in a particular library. The second part presents each output measure in detail, including the data elements needed and instructions for calculating the measure. The third part presents some techniques for collecting more subjective data, such as focus groups and user surveys, that may help to understand and interpret the quantitative output measure data. Copies of all of the blank forms needed are appended. (4 references) (BBM)

Featuring plentiful examples of how to proceed through each phase of the OBPE model, this book boils down planning and evaluation into an approachable, easy to understand process for public librarians, library managers, and grant writers.