Dig Deeper

dig deeper

The table below shows the kinds of information (listed from most important to least) that most decision-makers outside the library and museum communities want. It lists the four most common categories of messages about libraries or museums with some ways to collect supporting evidence.

Notice that outcomes assessment is the most common way to support the most sought after information.

 

Message

Information Strategies for Understanding Museum and Library Performance

What Good We Do/Why We Matter

Outcomes measurement

How Much We Cost/What We’re Worth

Return on investment, cost: benefit calculations

How Well We Do It

Customer satisfaction, quality benchmarks, rankings

How Much We Do

Inputs and outputs: statistics, gate counts, Web use logs, and other measures of quantity and productivity

close window graphic