■ Introduction

This appendix contains descriptions of the main methods used in libraries for collecting data in support of performance measurement. This, together with the succeeding appendices on data analysis and the presentation of results, is intended to offer practical advice to those engaged in designing and carrying out assessments of library services.

Comments in the earlier parts of this book on data collection methods should be read in conjunction with these appendices. In particular, care should be taken to select methods which are appropriate to the question being asked and the differences between quantitative and qualitative methods should be borne in mind. Further, it is important to bear in mindhow the data will be analysed and presented when selecting methods for data collection. There is no point in gathering sets of data which cannot be analysed, either because the tools are not available or the resource implication is too great.

It is assumed that before deciding on a method to use, and before designing a data collection instrument, an overall evaluation plan will have been put in place. Chapter 1, ‘Background’, outlines the elements that such a plan should cover.

■ General issues about surveys and other data collection methods

It is appropriate to begin with some general advice about the conduct of surveys and other data collection methods. This is presented in the form of ten golden rules of data collection and applies particularly to methods involving human subjects.