Library performance management to March 2008

In the past, the Public Library Service Standards  provided library authorities with a set of targets across core provision areas, which help to define a comprehensive and efficient service.  These were complemented from March 2005 by the Public Library Impact Measures.  These were selected to show the contribution of libraries to five of the seven shared priorities agreed by central and local government.

In 2006 MLA launched a review of the performance management regime for public libraries, and in 2007 consulted stakeholders on a proposed new public libraries performance management framework. This new framework was introduced in April 2008, providing managers of public library services with a tool to measure and understand their performance in the key areas of access, resources, quality and efficiency. The consultation document provides more background to the review:

A New Libraries Performance Management Framework (PDF 399KB)