The employment of quality measures in libraries: cultural differences, institutional imperatives and managerial profiles

Evaluating Intellectual Assets in University Libraries: A Multi-Site Case Study from Thailand

Intellectual assets are strategic resources that libraries can use to add value to services, but their intangible attributes make them hard to evaluate. An exploratory case study used document analysis, interviews and a questionnaire to develop and test indicators of intellectual assets and related performance measures at three university libraries in Thailand. The study demonstrated the feasibility of applying an intellectual capital perspective and a scorecard process model to design a workable system for evaluating library intangibles, particularly where libraries have a pre-existing interest in knowledge management and a culture of assessment.

Exploring the role of national culture on knowledge practices: a comparison between Spain and the UK

In the context of a competitive knowledge-based economy, the knowledge provided by a firm's founders is one of the most important measures of success. This paper aims to identify the role of national culture on a founder's knowledge practices in a modern organisation. Using data collected from 258 Small to Medium sized Enterprises (SME(S)) in the Spanish and UK telecommunication industries (130 from Spain and 128 from the UK), we propose three knowledge management practices to be analysed; namely transfer, transformation and open-mindedness. This paper provides evidence that while Spanish SME(S) are more positively associated with higher levels of transfer and transformation of knowledge, UK SME(S) are more positively associated with higher levels of open-mindedness. Hence, this study serves as an important contribution to the small amount of literature currently available in this field by examining different practices that can be explained by the cultural characteristics of both countries.

Trust and organisational effectiveness

Purpose

The purpose of the paper is to discuss the relationship between the concepts of social capital and organisational effectiveness in a library setting.

Design/methodology/approach

The concepts are discussed in relation to two studies of information behaviour. One of the studies is a local public library study and the second is a nationwide survey into high school students' information behaviour.

Findings

The data indicate a discrepancy between the development of (especially) public library services and the perceptions of a library in the mind of both users and non‐users.

Research limitations/implications

It has only been possible to raise a few questions on the basis of the two surveys. However, these questions relate to the theoretical concepts introduced in the beginning of this paper.

Originality/value

The paper highlights discrepancies that need to be remedied if the trust that is so important for public institutions is to continue to be at a high level.

Evaluation of library performance: current developments in Estonia

Purpose

The purpose of this paper is to provide a review of the development of practice and application of standards in Estonian research libraries.

Design/methdology/approach

The paper describes the following themes: evaluation of library performance; library performance measures: impact and outcome; and current developments in Estonia.

Findings

The research in this field needs to be improved, completed and developed on the national level in the following directions: implementation of internationally approved relevant research methods; the choice of methodology and tools appropriate for different library types; continuation of standardisation considering the electronic library evaluation; preparation of guidelines for the usage of indicators and their interpretation on the national level; development of data processing for research needs.

Originality/value

The paper offers insights into the current developments in library performance in Estonia.

The central role of leaders in public libraries

Purpose

Aims to explore the topic of leadership as perceived and practised by public library leaders. Library leaders have a wide‐ranging impact on society but have been largely overlooked as the subject of serious study. The current study seeks to investigate the perspectives of public library leaders beyond national boundaries in order to develop an understanding of the perceptions of current leaders in the field of public librarianship.

Design/methodology/approach

A total of 30 senior public library leaders were selected for in‐depth face‐to‐face interviews in three national jurisdictions – Ireland, the UK, and the USA.

Findings

The study of the perceptions of senior public library leaders, across national boundaries, makes a theoretical contribution not just to leadership in librarianship, but also to the broader literature on organizational leadership. Nine main thematic areas emerged from the findings. One of these themes, the centrality of leadership to librarianship, is the particular focus of this paper.

Practical implications

The findings support the centrality of leadership for optimal strategic and operational practices in the field of public librarianship. The challenge for the public library sector is to identify and consider the leadership skills and personal attributes that are essential to success.

Originality/value

Presents a representative sample of insights, reflections and assessments from participating public library leaders regarding the centrality of leadership to librarianship.