Mjerenje ekonomskog i socijalnog učinka opšte knjižnice na lokalnu zajednicu
Measuring the Public Library Economical and Sociological Impact on its Local Community

Summary/Abstract: In the current economic situation local government are forced to critically question every penning spent on cultural institutions. In this climate research interest and evaluation of the actual and potential benefits and impact of libraries activities on users and society have significantly increased. As librarians wish to show their economical and sociological worth, some new approaches and methods of measuring the outcomes and impact have been introduced. In the paper we present the method by which the Kamnik Public Library (MKK) pursues the outcome of its work. The library observes the principles of verifiability and transparency as well as that of a systematically and procedural approach because with the results, it can evaluate the success and quality of the work. The assessment is accounted for in the annual work plans, with the intention of improving them every year. For such continual improvement to take place, the support and understanding of the local community is necessary. This work shows the normal statistical measurements with the data being available to the public. The data within the framework of the system of quality management by the standards of ISO 9001:2008 is valued in terms of the perspective improvements or lags in the trends and measures are being taken that would guarantee improvement or stem a decline in trends. For the first time, we calculated the return of investment using the computational method of the economic benefits of the library. We found that each invested euro is increased fourfold. It is necessary to bear in mind that all the benefits cannot be economically or monetarily evaluated, since the impacts and benefits of reading or information literacy, knowledge, erudition and the capacity to understand are invaluable for the development of the local community, to which with its services, books, journals, electronic resources, events, and performances greatly assist the public library. The decision-makers in local communities can find concrete arguments to support their public libraries both financially and otherwise. They can also verify the library’s impact and the benefits that we have undoubtedly proven.

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