Performance Evaluation of Medical Academic Libraries Based on Dea Approach



Najafi A¹ ; Masoumi D² ; Sheikhshoaei F^{3, 6} ; Hajiagha SHR⁴ ; Zamani Z⁵ ; Sefiddashti SE^{3, 6} Show Affiliations
Source: International Journal of Information Science and Management Published:2022

Abstract

Medical academic libraries are required to exemplify and quantify the value of their services to their users and parent organizations. Using the Data Envelopment Approach (DEA) technique, this study reports and discusses the efficiency measurement of the 77 academic libraries in Type1 medical sciences universities in Iran. Eleven (11) inputs and outputs variables were selected to measure the efficiency and performance of the libraries. The selected variables were: Total volumes held, net volumes added during the research period, number of professional staff, number of supporting staff (service, security, etc.). The total number of full-time students' enrollment, full-time instructional faculties, total personal expenditures (professional and supporting staff), area of the libraries, library spaces, computers, and seating capacities. As a representative, variables of the services that libraries provide to their users, we have selected as outputs, opening hours per week, number of registered readers/ members (students, faculty, etc.), circulation transactions, and number of reader visits or attendance. The input-oriented BCC model was used to analyze libraries' efficiency and benchmark each inefficient unit by determining and introducing similar efficient units in terms of services and multiple parameters. Out of the 77 libraries analyzed, 30 libraries were efficient, and 47 were ranked as inefficient. By addressing the performance details of each of the introduced units as a benchmark, the finding of this study can help the gatekeeper of these universities to plan and modify their library work plans to improve performance and achieve full efficiency. © 2022. All Rights Reserved.