Abstract

In a rapidly changing environment, public libraries need performance measures that can comprehensively represent their activities in order to respond to various changes, demonstrate social value, and justify input resources. However, most of the performance evaluations have been focused on specific areas or specific analysis methods. Therefore, this study looked at the efforts of advanced countries of overseas libraries to develop performance evaluation tools for public libraries in order to develop performance management tools for domestic public libraries. The implications were derived by reviewing and analyzing the direction, evaluation system, and major performance evaluation areas of public library performance evaluation. The main result was that the perspective of public library performance evaluation was shifting from input-output-oriented to outcome or impact, and the performance evaluation area was linked to the development strategy of public libraries or the role of the library. And, the government and institutions were working together to establish an evaluation system for performance management of public libraries.