Research on Information Science and Public Libraries

The Comparison of the Relative Efficiency Trends of Iran Public Libraries Foundation on a province scale; A Systemic Approach to Data Processing

Volume 19, Issue 4
Winter 2013
Pages 493-510
Research on Information Science and Public Libraries

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

Esmaeil Shah Tahmaseb
Mohammad Reza Esmaeili Givi
Sarah Shamsollahi

University of Tehran

Abstract
Purpose: This research aims to investigate methods of identifying efficient provinces in terms of public library administration and to offer macro policies that dominate their management through the survey of efficiency trends of libraries dependant on public libraries Institution.
Methodology: The research has used an analytical-descriptive Methodology.  Data from the libraries of  30 provinces were  processed by DEA MASTER.1software in a systematic approach of  Data Envelope Analysis (DEA). The efficiency trend of public libraries was surveyed through six input and three output criteria between the years 2008 and 2011. Efficiency was calculated within the framework of an increasing scale revenue method using an input oriented approach.
Findings: Changes in the values of efficiency and in the number of efficient and inefficient provinces is considerable. The greatest number of efficient provinces was found in 2009.  The largest gap in efficiency between the least and the most efficient in the same year occurred in 2013. The categorization approach based on suitable performance oriented criteria is suggested for distribution of resources or inputs.  Long term criteria and strategy oriented approach is offered for surveying outputs.
Originality/Value: Considering the efficiency values, the changes, and the changing trends it is obvious that this issue has arisen within the context of a growing and unstable period.  However, the management trends for equality and for reducing injustice appear to be at an acceptable level. In addition, two main points are considered in this paper: the causes of major changes in efficiency values of some provinces, and the selection of reference provinces for inefficient ones.

Keywords

Iran Public Libraries Foundation
Efficiency
DEA
Data Envelope Analysis
Systematic Data Processing

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