Neal-Schuman Publishers, Inc.

 

Evaluation tools are an essential part of improving service and proving the library’s value. This easy-to-understand how-to outlines the use of five of the most important and popular methods of evaluation:

* Needs assessments
* Performance improvements
* Benchmarking
* Library standards
* Outcome measures

Each chapter includes step-by-step guidance for defining goals, staffing the project, developing a timeline, collecting data, analyzing findings, and sharing results. The five different methods are illustrated with real-world examples, showing what libraries evaluated and how findings helped change their organization. Invaluable managerial tools including checklists, forms, worksheets, and more -- all reproducible from the CD-ROM -- help you implement the methods easily and affectively. Managers in all types of libraries will find this an informative and practical resource for improving their organization.

 ...written in a clear, easy-to-understand manner...Using Benchmarking is an excellent, easy-to-understand introduction to a complicated subject. Definitely recommended.
-- The Australian Library Journal, November 2008
 
An excellent book...Well organized with plenty of references for background and additional reading...extremely useful.
-- Journal of the Med Lib Assoc, July 2008
 
Author Rosalind Farnam Dudden provides a treasure trove of resources for those of us who are looking for effective methods of evaluation...it proves itself not only useful and logical, but, at points, truly visionary.
-- InfoToday, October 2008
 
Because the information in it is transferable to any type of library, it should be seriously considered for the professional collections of other types of libraries lacking new works on library evaluation and benchmarking.
-- ARBA Vol 39, 2008
 

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