Comparing the Incomparable? Performance Measures for National Libraries

Abstract

The article describes the process of developing performance measures for national libraries, which culminated in the publication in April 2009 of the International Organization for Standardization Technical Report ISO 28118 Information and documentation – performance indicators for national libraries. An ISO working group began by defining the general mission and main tasks of national libraries. Most existing performance indicators, devised mainly for academic and public libraries, compared a library's input and output to the size of its primary user group. However, national libraries do not have such a defined user group – a fact that had to be reflected in the chosen indicators, which cover: building the national collection; making services accessible; offering reference services; building potentials for development; preserving the collection; and managing efficiently.