Working towards best practice in australian university libraries: Reflections on a national project

Abstract

‘Best Practice for Australian University Libraries’ was a federally funded project under the Commonwealth Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs Evaluations and Investigations Program (EIP). The aim was to investigate best practice activities in Australian academic libraries. Reference was also made to relevant best practice activities in selected overseas countries. Best practice activities within Australian academic libraries were considered to encompass the extent of implementation of quality frameworks, the use of benchmarking and performance measurement as tools for the continuous improvement of products, processes and services, and the development of staff competencies and training required for these activities. A Council of Australian University Librarians Working Group is progressing the recommendations of the EIP project report ‘Guidelines for the Application of Best Practice in Australian University Libraries: Intranational and International Benchmarks’ and a parallel ‘Best Practice Handbook for Australian University Libraries' has been published. EIP project reports are published in hardcopy and widely distributed and also made available on the Department of Education, Training and Youth Affairs website.1 Members of the investigating team reflect on the lessons. © 2001, Taylor & Francis Group, LLC. All rights reserved.