How managers and librarians evaluate provincial government department libraries in Nova Scotia

In a period of downsizing, libraries in government departments are vulnerable. This thesis shows that by implementing an evaluation process such libraries are in a better position to thrive and develop in the face of the buffeting of change. The thesis begins by reviewing the history of the evaluation of libraries in government settings in Canada and the United States, and then outlines the types of evaluation procedures that have been used. The study turns next to an analysis of the data from an extensive survey, which paid particular attention to evaluation processes and the views of librarians and managers of Nova Scotia's provincial government department libraries that was conducted in February 1998. The evidence from this survey shows that there are a variety of libraries in the Nova Scotia government departments, and while there is some resistance to implementing evaluation processes, most managers and librarians are interested in securing the benefits that evaluation of the libraries provides. The thesis concludes by setting out recommendations and outlines a procedure for implementing an evaluation process that takes into account not only the survey of government department libraries in Nova Scotia but also the observations of five other major studies of special libraries. Appendices to the thesis provide sample instruments that can be used in conducting an evaluation.