Measurement, management and the digital library

While the need for meaningful assessment of traditional library services is well established, the development of metrics and standards for performance measurement in the digital library is less well advanced – it is fair to say that proven approaches to the assessment of the digital library are still relatively new. However, progress has been made through initiatives such as the ARL Statistics and Measurement Program and projects such as the EQUINOX project, COUNTER, the ARL's LIBQUAL+initiative, the JUBILEE project, and most recently the eVALUEd project. Currently, we are at a stage where the evaluative tools are available to present a library's traditional and digital contributions to the strategic aims of its parent institution in a coherent and effective fashion. Nevertheless, for such performance assessment to fulfil its potential as a management tool, it must be embedded within the management culture of the library and its parent organisation.