Performance indicators for the ISTAR Project

摘要

The ISTAR Networks pilot project, supported by the European Commission DG EMPL formerly DG V), was completed successfully on 27 April 2000. ISTAR was funded under the Regional Information Society Initiatives (RISI2) programme over a two-and-a-half year period, to a value of some 2 million Euros.The three pilot regions in which it implemented services were Imathia (Central Macedonia, Greece),Western Education and Libraries Board (Northern Ireland) and Thuringen (Germany). Since it began in November 1997, ISTAR tested on a practical basis key new roles for public libraries, working in active partnerships with other regional agencies in the public and private sector, in supporting economies of Europe's 'peripheral' regions by delivering cost-effective information and training services to users. Performance indicators were central to the project's success because: 1. The funding body [the Directorate of the European Commission] responsible for Employment, NOT libraries, wanted proof that its own objectives had been met and 2. It was experimental at that time to provide these services through public libraries and important for the future that they be seen to have succeeded. The tools which were used to monitor activity in each region, include: 1. Statistics - to assess take-up e.g. number of users, of training courses, sites hosted etc. 2. Case studies - e.g. to demonstrate skills improvement 3. Surveys (questionnaires) - e.g. to test ease of use, skills improvement, impact on users 4. Baseline surveys were carried out in each region 5. Focus Groups - to test user reaction in more depth.