Presents a model for the development of statewide levels of adequacy for public libraries. Recent developments affecting the profession's thinking about standards are reviewed, various dimensions of the concept of standards are discussed, and issues that remain to be resolved are identified. (Author/JD)

This study of public libraries in Ohio explored whether voluntary state public library standards will be complied with to the same extent by smaller and larger libraries. Findings indicate that library size, as measured by population and income, is a factor in two categories of standards components: community input and library management. Contains…

Discusses the lack of quantitative standards in the ARL-ACRL Standards for University Libraries and demonstrates the use of statistical techniques to analyze data and derive minimal criteria which, while they describe quantitative relationships among libraries, provide no indication of quality of services. Sixteen references are cited. (RAA)

Discussion of academic libraries and the accrediting process focuses on an evaluation and comparison of library guidelines from 17 specialized accrediting bodies with guidelines from regional accreditors. Input versus output measures are discussed, and suggestions for improving the library's participation in the process are offered. (Contains 25…

Describes a study of Institutes of Health Sciences (IHS) libraries in Botswana that determined the state of the collections and services and examined how well the libraries provided complements to classroom-based student learning and to lecturers' research. Results showed that college library standards were not met and recommends strategies for…

Discusses the library standards--"Guidelines for Two-Year College Learning Resources Programs"--as approved in 1972 by three national associations, highlighting addition of quantitative standards in 1979, review in 1981, utilization for research studies, role in accreditation process, and use for statewide planning. A 28-item…

The need for library services standards to reflect the growth in cooperation and interdependence among libraries and for accountability and their intended purpose, impact on directional changes, and on services improvement are discussed as well as the implications of their being based on scientific inquiry. Listed are 24 sources. (RBF)

Draws some initial connections between library performance measures and library space planning and collection management. Output measure surveys are suggested for establishing hierarchies of use and appropriate design of environments for housing the collection. Four references are listed. (MES)

Public library effectiveness efforts are placed within the context of theoretical and empirical research on organizational effectiveness. The construct, measures, and determinants of public library effectiveness are investigated, and a possible model of the determinants of public library output measures is presented. (Author/EM)

Discussion of standards for school library media programs focuses on standards developed for Alabama's school systems. A study that was conducted to determine the level of implementation of the criteria for library media programs is described, hypotheses tested are explained, and the questionnaire used in the study is included. (nine references)…

The first article summarizes the findings of four studies which used unobtrusive testing techniques to evaluate library reference services. The validity of this testing method and the conclusions reached are discussed, and suggestions are made for improving reference services in five related articles. (CLB)

Information Power is the latest edition of library media program guidelines to be developed, and it is from these guidelines that school library media programs should be evaluated. This research examines the extent that library media programs in special settings, such as schools for the hearing impaired, met the guidelines as established in…

Explores electronic journal usage statistics and develops three metrics and three benchmarks based on those metrics. Topics include earlier work that assessed the value of print journals and was modified for the electronic format; the evaluation of potential purchases; and implications for standards development, including the need for content…

Suggests that the continued effectiveness of microformat library tools depends upon quality standards in the design of micropublications, the facilities in which they are used, and the reading/printing equipment they are used on. The "ideal" features of microform tools are described and a 131-entry reference list is included. (Author/JL)

Examines the adaptation of a set of library performance measures derived from a UNESCO manual to Swedish libraries. The basic principles of the measurement process and general library objectives are identified, and the difficulties encountered during the study are explained. The Swedish results are compared to the ideal measures presented in the…