Academic library standards and performance measures

Abstract

This paper develops a model set of regional accreditation library standards that encompasses qualitative standards for accreditation purposes and suggested quantitative performance measures for local self-evaluation purposes. A core of standards was identified through a content analysis of the existing library standards of the seven higher-education regional accreditation commissions. They were then matched with performance measures identified through the literature, and expert advice from the field was sought twice to comment on (1) the appropriateness of the standards for accreditation purposes by college sector and (2) the usefulness of the performance measures for assessing the achievement of some of the standards. A new set of academic library standards was thus developed with which specific performance measures could be used.