8) Output measures vs. input measures-how do they differ? Give an example of each one. Why have libraries moved toward output measures? ����������� Output measures are one way libraries can look to see how well they are serving their patrons. With output measures you look at numbers that show how much the library has been used. The idea behind this is that if the library�s purpose is to serve the public, then you should see how they are actually served to measure how well you are doing. The easiest output measure to look at for most libraries is the circulation. That shows how many of the books are actually being used by your patrons. Another good output measure is the number of visitors the library has in a given day/week/year/etc. So even if some people only come to look something up, use certain resources or library programs, or even just to ask questions you can look at that and know how well you are doing and how much more you can do. ����������� Input measures are another way that libraries can look at how well they serve their clientele. Input measures use figures concerning the library�s physical resources to show how well the patrons are being served. These are supposed to show how the library has the enough of these resources to serve its user base. The collection size of the library is used as an input measure. The larger the size of your collection is supposed to show how much more you have to offer your patrons. The number of employees a library has is also used as an input measure. That should show how many people are available to help the patrons and do the business of the library. ����������� Both input and output measures try to determine, with actual numbers, how well the library is serving their patrons. They differ on what they use, input measures use what the library has on hand, output measures use people served. Each has their benefits and their drawbacks. Things like the collection size and the resources are important to a library. A library with few books isn�t very helpful, but collection size can be deceiving. If much of your collection is outdated or materials people don�t need then it serves no one. I know recently I went to a library in a neighboring county looking for a biography on someone and I happened upon two copies of a Dan Quayle biography or autobiography, I forget which. I truly doubt that there is much demand for one copy, let alone two, so who does that serve? Likewise it�s good to show how many books people check out or how many people visit the library but doesn�t necessarily show that the books checked out were helpful, they may have been all that was available. And if you just look at number of people visiting you have no real indication if they found what they were looking for. ����������� Libraries have moved toward output measures for a number of reasons. They have realized that having a large number of books, in itself, does nothing to serve your patrons. To serve them you actually need them to come in and use the resources. If you just use input measures you never have any idea how many people are served. With much more information being available in places other than books, it�s essential for a library help people to find that info, and the only way you�ll know if that�s going on is to look at output measures. I know many people think of a library as just books so they would prefer libraries use input measures to say we have so many thousands of books, but anyone associated with the library knows that there�s much more to it then that, so they have moved to using a measures which help them, rather than those that impress others.