University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign

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

Bundy, Alan; Amey, Larry

Content Files
BundyAmey544.pdf

Permalink

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

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
Date of Ingest
2008-02-20T15:26:26Z
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
Genre of Resource
Article
Language
en
Permalink
http://hdl.handle.net/2142/3644
Copyright and License Information
Copyright 2006 Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois.

Owning Collections

Library Trends 54 (4) Spring 2006: Dual Use Libraries PRIMARY
Library Trends 54 (4) Spring 2006: Dual Use Libraries. Edited by Sarah McNicol