Impact measures for libraries and information services

PURPOSE - To demonstrate the importance of impact / outcome research in libraries. DESIGN/METHODOLOGY/APPROACH - The paper gives an overview of purposes and methods used in impact research and illustrates this through project experiences. FINDINGS - Various projects worldwide are trying to prove that use of library services can positively influence skills and competences, attitudes and behaviour of users. The benefits that users experience by using library services can be assessed in terms of knowledge gained, higher information literacy, higher academic or professional success, social inclusion, and increase in individual well-being. RESEARCH LIMITATIONS/IMPLICATIONS - The main problem of impact research is, that influences on an individual are manifold and that therefore it is difficult to trace changes and improvements back to the library. The paper shows methods that are tested and used at the present. More investigation is needed to identify methods that could be used to show a library’s overall impact or to develop measures that would permit benchmarking between institutions. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS - The paper shows practical examples of impact assessment, covering “soft” methods like surveys, interviews, focus groups, observation and quantitative methods like tests, analysis of publications, or usage data. ORIGINALITY/VALUE - The paper acquaints libraries with a topic that is not yet well known and, by showing practical examples, demonstrates how libraries can attempt to assess their impact

Information Provision for Research and Teaching: Problems and Possible Solutions

The changes in media and communication channels and the growing amount of information available on the Web make it difficult for researchers to keep up-to-date in their subjects. The paper is based on the results of a German survey that tried to assess topical ways of information seeking and information provision. The results demonstrate the demand for new electronic library services like integrated portals, desk-top delivery, and personalized profiles and the problems arising by information overload and unsufficient information literacy. Possible solutions for future information provision are shown in a model for integrated information management in universities and simila institutions

Klaus Hilgemann (1945–2022)

Nachruf auf den Vorsitzenden des VDB (1997–1999) Klaus Hilgeman

Measuring impact and outcome

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Bibliotheksmanagement: Stand der Normung

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Assessing the quality of library websites

Vortrag, IFLA Tagung 2005 in Oslo, Norwege

Standardized measures for the changing information environment

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Quality

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