Best value – the impact on libraries: practical steps in demonstrating best value
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/01435129910268982 |
| Published date | 01 June 1999 |
| Pages | 206-214 |
| Date | 01 June 1999 |
| Author | David Liddle |
| Subject Matter | Library & information science |
Best value ± the impact
on libraries: practical
steps in demonstrating
best value
David Liddle
Introduction
The concept of best value presents a new
approach to defining value for money and
quality of service delivery in UK local govern-
ment. It will eventually apply to all services
provided by local authorities. This paper
concentrates on the impact on public libraries.
There is, as yet no consensus on a final
definition or description of what best value is
and how it may evolve. Some very significant
issues are still in the discussion stage and the
detail of how best value will actually work has
still to be determined.
The content of this paper is therefore
speculative, albeit based on some knowledge of
the thinking that is going on about the practical
application of best value and about how local
authorities might be asked to demonstrate the
best value process.
Best value will involve inspection and audit-
ing and this means that the format and the
process of demonstrating best value is likely to
be prescriptive. This will leave sufficient room
for local approaches and the application of local
indicators, but the structure of the recording of
how each authority approaches best value will
probably be systematic and fairly uniform. The
approach suggested here may not be the one
that is adopted, but it is likely to be very similar
and the processes, whatever labels are subse-
quently given to them, are likely to be the same.
This paper will concentrate, therefore, on
how best value might be demonstrated and
what data might be used. Central to this is the
question of what is quality in the library service
and how it can be measured and improved.
The nature of best value
Politically, best value is central to the
Government's objective of reinforcing and
reinvigorating local democracy through
consultation with and the involvement of
service users and the wider community. It is
also a mechanism through which central
The author
David Liddle is a consultant with CPI Ltd, Bruton, UK.
Keywords
Library services, Public libraries, Performance indicators,
Service quality, Value-for-money audit
Abstract
Describes the new concept to defining value for money
and quality of service delivery in UK local government.
Public library services in a number of selected local
authority areas are involved in pilot projects. Demon-
strates the principles and practicalities of the ``best value''
process including the four Cs. These are: challenge, is the
service needed at all?; compare, involving analysis,
comparison and benchmarking; consult, which requires
authorities to seek dialogue with the public it serves;
compete, which looks for partnerships and private sector
involvement.
Electronic access
The research register for this journal is available at
http://www2.mcb.co.uk/mcbrr/lm.asp
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emerald-library.com
This paper was presented at a CPI Library and
Information policy seminar held at Stamford,
Lincolnshire, UK, on 22 September 1998. The
proceedings of the seminar, entitled The Concept of
Best Value: the Impact on Library and Information
Services, ISBN 1 898869 45 6 is published by CPI
Limited and is available from 91 High Street,
Bruton, Somerset, BA10 0BH, UK. Price £19.95.
206
Library Management
Volume 20 .Number 4 .1999 .pp. 206±212
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0143-5124
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