Purpose: In this research, we analyzed and compared relative efficiency indicators of Institutional and Participatory Public Libraries that being administered by Iran Public Libraries Foundation (IPLF) with Sensitivity analysis in real boundaries.
Methodology: We used descriptive- analytical methodology a long with the purpose of research. Six input and three output indexes are extracted from statistical documentations of IPLF. The statistical population was all provinces of Iran in 2010 and 2011. In addition, data envelopment analysis model has been used for calculating of performance.
Findings: The results show that there are 8 and 11 efficient provinces respectfully between Participatory and Institutional Libraries. The most sensitive indicator among total indicators for both of them was number of books in input. The least sensitive indicators were the number of audiovisual for Participatory and the number of seats for Institutional Libraries in the input. The quality of the efficiency figures of Participatory Libraries of the Sistan-Balochestan province was in the best situation and efficiency figures of participatory libraries of Yazd and Hormozgan provinces were in the worst situation. Also, The quality of the efficiency figures of Institutional Libraries of the Gazvin, Khorasan-Shomali and Khorasan-Jonobi provinces were in the best situation. The mentioned quality of efficiency figures were in worst situation for Institutional Libraries of Khorasan-Razavi and Kordestan.
Originality/value: This research recommends that Participatory Libraries can benchmark Institutional Libraries in output management and Institutional Libraries can benchmark Participatory Libraries in input management.