In spite of their evolution over the last few decades, accelerated most recently due to the Googlization of information, public libraries have been amazingly impervious to change in the arena of performance measurement. I found the following observations about library measures in the early history of American libraries:
There is no branch of library economy more important, or so little understood by a librarian as helps to himself, as the daily statistics which he can preserve of the growth, loss, and use (both in extent and character) of the collection under his care. The librarian who watches these things closely, and records them, always understands what he is about, and what he accomplishes or fails to accomplish. The patrons to whom he present these statistics will comprehend better the machinery of the library, and be more indulgent toward its defects.1
Interesting that use of library statistics for advocacy purposes was recognized in 1876. [Read more...]
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1 Warren, S. R. & Clark, S. N., Eds., 1876, Public Libraries in the United States of America, Washington, DC: U.S. Bureau of Education, p. 714.
