Kathryn Ball
McMaster University Library
Kathryn Ball's research interests include the use of the Balanced Scorecard in academic libraries, the development of performance metrics and qualitative methods in library assessment. She has spoken at provincial and national conferences and written several articles on these topics.
Purpose:
The authors' current research is exploring the use of metrics in strategic plans in Canadian academic libraries.
Design, methodology or approach:
The initial phase of the research project involves examining the current strategic plans of member libraries of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries (CARL), checking for the use of a specific strategic planning framework and the use of performance measures as part of the plan. The second phase will involve follow-up interviews with assessment librarians and senior leaders in the organizations to further explore the use (or non-use) of metrics in the strategic planning process, and the link between assessment processes and the strategic planning process. The approach is similar to a study conducted by Rayna Bowlby on member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) (Bowlby, 2010). 52% of CARL libraries are also members of ARL. A comparison of the results of the two studies will be a part of the research.
Findings:
An initial scan indicates that 79% of Canadian academic libraries have a strategic plan posted on their website, of which 26% have associated metrics.
Research or practical limitations or implications:
Although the study focuses on Canadian academic libraries their strategic planning processes and performance measures may be of use to other academic libraries.
Conclusions:
The study will provide current information on the state of strategic planning in Canadian academic libraries highlighting similarities, differences and gaps in types of metrics.
Originality and value:
We hope to provide insight into the challenges of the strategic planning process and the development and use performance measures. It will be interesting to note if the situation has changed in those Canadian libraries that were also part of the Bowlby study.
References:
Bowlby, R. (2010). "Are We There Yet? Aligning Planning and Metrics -- Strategically", Retrieved from http://libraryassessment.org/bm~doc/bowlby_raynna-2.pdf
Organisational issues , Performance Indicators , Frameworks
