The Evolution of Measurement and Evaluation of Libraries: A Perspective from the Association of Research Libraries

Kyrillidou, Martha; Cook, Colleen

Permalink

https://hdl.handle.net/2142/9498 Copy

Description

Title

The Evolution of Measurement and Evaluation of Libraries: A Perspective from the Association of Research Libraries

Author(s)

• Kyrillidou, Martha
• Cook, Colleen

Issue Date

2008

Keyword(s)

Lancaster, F. Wilfrid (Frederick Wilfrid), 1933-

Abstract

This paper reviews the evolution of measurement and evaluation in libraries from the perspectives of three important figures who have shaped the history of library assessment activities: James Gerould, F. Wilfrid Lancaster, and Duane Webster. Although Lancaster is about a decade older than Webster and almost half a century removed from Gerould, the contributions of the three individuals knit a common fabric in the development of assessment in libraries in the past century. In investigating the interconnections of the three individuals, not only can we gain an understanding of how we got to today’s world of evaluation in libraries, but also we can gain a glimpse into future developments in the field. James Gerould was a library administrator, Lancaster was a library educator, and Webster was a library association executive. Each brought unique perspectives into the evaluation and measurement of library services. In this article we attempt to offer a tribute to Lancaster’s accomplishments within the context of the work done in the Association of Research Libraries as it was shaped over the years between Gerould and Webster, from the beginning toward the end of the twentieth century.

Publisher

Johns Hopkins University Press and the 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/2142/9498

Copyright and License Information

Copyright 2008 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois

Owning Collections