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Benchmarking system for public libraries
In the coming years public libraries in the Netherlands will be able to compare their costs and results in a common system of benchmarking. The Netherlands Public Library Association (NBLC) and the Public Library Employers Association (WOB) have ordered the Economic Institute for Medium Size and Small Businesses (EIM) to design a tailor-made system of benchmarking to support the efficiency of libraries. The system will make use of the annual data gathered by the Central Statistical Bureau (CBS) and NBLC, but this data-collection is in itself insufficient for benchmarking. The range of products and services which a library supplies varies; therefore benchmarking of costs and productivity must take this variety of services into account.
A written survey among one hundred public libraries will give the first indications and include questions on the presence of exhibition space, reading and sitting space, reading cafs etc. The survey also includes questions on websites, security, sales of outworn materials, opening hours and rent out of meeting rooms. Time measurement of staff for various activities will also be included.
The primary in depth interviews show the enthusiastic responses of librarians about the diversity of their libraries services, and the enormous network of contacts with other institutions.
The survey will be executed in July and August 2002.
More information by
NBLC Knowledge Centre:
Menno Stein, +31 70 30 90 180, , or
Marie Louise Groenland, +31 70 30 90 217,
(Marian Koren/24.06.2002)
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25 June 2026
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