Measurement of College Library Performance: An Evaluative Study with Standards

摘要

College libraries have a pivotal role in the transmission of information for higher education. Their evaluation is inevitable to enhance their performance. A variety of measures arc available to evaluate college library functioning. However, standards are more effective to have a valid evaluation. The Library Associations such as ACRL, higher education organizations like CoFHE, the National Standard Institutions, various Educational Committees and Library Committees have developed standards and revised them from time to time. The paper traces out the available standards for measuring the college libraries in India, and compares the recommendations made by University Grants Commission (UGC) (India) and suggestions made by expert committees and professional experts. An in-depth analysis reveals their strengths and weaknesses. The paper concludes that there are no authentic standards revised and approved by a body like the UGC to evaluate college libraries in India and suggests a model set of standards for college libraries in India, keeping in view the technology-based information environment.