| Περίληψη: | This document is concerned with the evaluation of libraries of all types. The main purpose of this document is to endorse the use of performance indicators regarding the quality of library services in libraries and to spread knowledge about how to conduct performance measurement. Performance indicators can be used for comparison over time within the same library. Comparisons between libraries can also be made, but only with caution. Comparisons between libraries will need to consider any differences in the constituencies of the libraries and library attributes, with a good understanding of the indicators used, limitations to comparisons, and careful interpretation of the data. There are other limitations to the performance indicators in this document that depend on local factors, such as the community the library serves, service mandates, and the technological and financial infrastructure. Results from the use of performance indicators in this document are intended to be interpreted with regard to these factors. Performance indicators are not specified for all services, activities, and types of use of the library, either because such indicators have not been proposed and tested at the time of formulation of this document, or because they did not fulfil the criteria specified. The performance indicators included in this document do not reflect all possible measures or evaluation techniques. It offers accepted, tested, and publicly accessible (i.e. non-proprietary) methodologies and approaches to measuring a range of library service performance. The quality of library services is related to the broader topic of quality management and quality assurance. This document acknowledges and supports the International Standards prepared by ISO/TC 176. Every indicator in this document is given a unique name. This name sometimes differs from the literature upon which its description is based. Such differences are documented in the descriptions of the indicators. The performance indicators included in this document are either in widespread use, well documented in the literature, or sufficiently field-tested. Additional indicators have been developed by the working group in analogy to existing ones in order to cover as far as possible all library services and activities. Library services will continue to develop and evolve, and such evolution will require monitoring as related to the indicators in this document. The library and information community is encouraged to establish mechanisms and to give high priority to developing relevant indicators for existing and emerging library services and resources. This document will be maintained by a working group that will monitor developments and incorporate additional indicators as they are tested and validated.
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