Measuring performance with library automated systems
| Published date | 01 March 2000 |
| Date | 01 March 2000 |
| Pages | 75-81 |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.1108/07378830010314492 |
| Author | John P. OFarrell |
| Subject Matter | Information & knowledge management,Library & information science |
Measuring performance
with library automated
systems
John P. OFarrell
Introduction
This article is based on research carried out in
Liverpool John Moores University, and which
examined the applicability of the ISO standard
on performance measurement to academic
libraries (ISO, 1997). Three academic libraries
were included in the research, each of which
uses a different library automated system
(LAS), namely: Dynix Classic, Innopac and
Talis.
Methodology
The scope of the research was wider than this
article indicates; the overall aim of the research
was to determine the feasibility of implementing
the ISO 11620 standard into the sample
libraries, taking into account current
performance measurement practice, the
capability of the automated systems to generate
the datasets, and the librarians' perceptions of
the benefits to be obtained. After an extensive
literature search, interviews were carried out
with the chief librarian of each university to
determine current performance measurement
practice in each of the libraries; lengthy
discussions then took place with the system
librarians of each institution in order to
determine the exact capability of the library
automated systems (LAS) to generate the
relevant datasets.
Only the datasets which could possibly be
obtained from an LAS are discussed in this
article; those which require totally manual data
collection methods are not included.
Background to the ISO standard
The International Standards Organisation
(ISO) is a large non-governmental organisation
which began its work shortly after the Second
World War. Initially the work of ISO lay
primarily with technical and mechanical, but
today all sectors are included. At present there
are over 9,300 different standards.
ISO comprises more than 180 technical
committees (TCs) and a number of
subcommittees are attached to each TC. The
The author
John P OFarrell is Senior Lecturer in Information
Management at the Liverpool Business School, Liverpool
John Moores University, Liverpool, UK.
J.P.OFarrell@livjm.ac.uk
Keywords
Performance measurement, Libraries, Standards, Automation
Abstract
This article is based on research carried out in Liverpool John
Moores University, UK. Investigates the capability of three
library automated systems to generate some of the datasets
necessary to form the ISO 11620 standard on performance
measurement within libraries. Gives background to the
standard and details how the Talis, Dynix Classic and
Innopac systems can generate the datasets. Concludes that
the systems are weak in generating the necessary
management data.
Electronic access
The current issue and full text archive of this journal is
available at
http://www.emerald-library.com
75
Library Hi Tech
Volume 18 .Number 1 .2000 .pp. 75±81
#MCB University Press .ISSN 0737-8831
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