Statistics and Evaluation Section
Strategic Plan
2006-2007
Mission
The Section aims to promote the collection and use of statistics and performance indicators both for the successful management and operation of libraries and for the demonstration of the value of libraries to their users, parent institutions and funding agencies.
Goals
1. Promote and demonstrate the value of the use of measurement and evaluation in the management, operation and promotion of libraries and library services.
(Pillars: Society, Profession. Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (h) Developing library professionals)
1.1. Hold meetings and sessions at IFLA conferences in furtherance of the goal.
(Status: Ongoing)
1.2 Publicise case studies utilising statistics to improve the management of libraries on IFLANET and in the Statistics Section Newsletter and other IFLA publications, including web publication.
(Status: Ongoing)
1.3. Maintain the list of web sites for national statistics on IFLANET.
(Status: Ongoing)
1.5 Maintain the list of web sites related to library evaluation on IFLANET.
(Status: Ongoing)
1.6 Maintain the list of web sites for impact and outcome of libraries.
(Status: Ongoing)
2. Advocate the use of quantitative and qualitative evaluation methods and tools.
(Pillars: Profession, Society. Professional priorities: (h) Developing library professionals; (k) Representing libraries in the technological marketplace)
2.1. Encourage schools of library and information science to include instruction in the use and interpretation of statistics, performance measures, etc., and explore methods of promoting this through national and international associations.
(Status: Ongoing. Seeking funding to support a Professional Report in 2006 updating a 2000 study on the teaching of statistics and evaluation)
2.2. Create a working group to identify outcome and impact indicators and measures.
(Status: Ongoing. Created Summer 2002).
3. Promote the development and use of standardised measures
(Pillars: Profession. Professional priorities: (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
3.1 Work with other organisations to promote the development and use of recognised standards for benchmarking and comparative analysis.
(Status: Ongoing)
4. Promote the development and use of best practice.
(Pillars: Profession. Professional priorities: (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
4.1. Hold meetings and sessions at IFLA congresses promoting the use of best practice, and encourage publication of the results.
(Status: Ongoing. Seoul congress will promote evidence-based knowledge management)
4.2 Create and promote an IFLA discussion list for the Section.
(Status: to be created before Seoul congress.)
4.3 Publicise Section and other appropriate web pages.
(Status: to be pursued by linking analysis in 2006.)
5. Co-operate with, assist and advise other IFLA sections in the use of measurement and evaluation in their fields.
(Pillars: Society, Membership, Profession. Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (f) Promoting resource sharing; (h) Developing library professionals)
5.1. Continue to co-operate with other IFLA groups involved in the study of performance measures.
(Status: Ongoing. Continuing to co-operate with University and Reseach Libraries section in discussion group on Quality Measures. Co-operated with University and Reseach Libraries and with Information Technology sections in 2005; collaborating with Knowledge Management at Seoul 2006. Will seek to co-operate with Special Libraries in 2007.)
5.2. Work with other IFLA groups, library associations and relevant bodies to develop workshops and projects.
(Status: Ongoing. Collaboration with University of Northumbria in nominating the Performance Measurement Conference as an IFLA satellite conference; and with bodies such as LISU and ARL. Work with Norwegian library school during 2006 in project on the teaching of statistics and evaluation.)
5.3. Work with other IFLA groups, library associations and relevant bodies to develop workshops and projects based on best practice.
(Status: Ongoing)
5.4. Identify relevant statistics to support IFLA's advocacy of women's issues.
(Status: Working group established in 2005 to report in 2006.)
6. Support international benchmark comparisons and collaboration with international agencies.
(Pillars: Society, Profession. Professional priorities: (a) Supporting the role of libraries in society; (f) Promoting resource sharing ; (i) Promoting standards, guidelines and best practice)
6.1. Work with ISO, Unesco and other international organisations to promote the development and use of recognised standards for benchmarking and comparative analysis.
(Status: Ongoing)
6.2. Liaise with ISO and other standards organisations over the revision of standards for library statistics and performance measures
(Status: Ongoing)
6.3 Initiate discussion with the Unesco Institute of Statistics and other relevant bodies with a view to developing a new approach to global library statistics.
(Status: Initial contacts have been made with Unesco Institute of Statistics in Montreal. Aim to develop these in a three-year programme to reinvigorate global library statistics by 2008 conference, involving OECD and ISO as appropriate.)
