Libraries Like No Others: Evaluating the Performance and Progress of Joint Use Libraries

Bundy, Alan; Amey, Larry

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https://hdl.handle.net/2142/3644 Copy

Description

Title

Libraries Like No Others: Evaluating the Performance and Progress of Joint Use Libraries

Author(s)

• Bundy, Alan
• Amey, Larry

Issue Date

2006

Keyword(s)

• Joint use libraries
• Library cooperation
• Library evaluation

Abstract

The published and research literature on joint use libraries relates mostly to school community libraries, which are normally combinations of high school and public libraries. That literature often still emphasizes the susceptibility of joint use libraries to dysfunctionality or even failures, although the record of successful combinations is improving because of informed planning and consideration of the requirements for success. Evaluation of joint use library performance and progress is one requirement that is still given little attention in planning and formal agreements. The uniqueness of most joint use libraries also militates against general evaluation criteria and benchmarking. Difficulties in a joint use library, therefore, tend to be unrecognized by its institutional partners until there is a crisis. Continuous self-evaluation and a commitment to transparent periodic external evaluation will minimize these diffi culties and foster joint use library synergies. A joint use library evaluation methodology is outlined. The methodology is focused on internal ongoing formative evaluation using critical success factors. This should be complemented by external five-to-seven-year reviews commencing within three years of a library’s establishment.

Publisher

Graduate School of Library and Information Science. University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign.

ISSN

0024-2594

Type of Resource

text

Language

en

Permalink

http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3644

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2006 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

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