Development of strategic performance information at the National Library of Scotland

The purpose of this paper is to explore the development of strategic performance indicators at the National Library of Scotland (NLS) over the past two years in response to the introduction of a new corporate strategy and the introduction of an outcome‐based public performance framework by the Scottish Government

The paper describes how NLS has developed and improved management of performance information and how the cultural, management and implementation issues have involved. At the same time, NLS has sought to align key performance indicators with the political agenda of the Scottish Government and the paper looks to future developments, particularly in developing outcome indicators which meet both government and NLS needs.

The development of strategic PIs meeting both library and governmental requirements if both practical and feasible.

The paper reports a journey of growth and development in performance measurement in a major national library, offering an example for similar libraries worldwide.