Evaluation in French Public Libraries : A Contrasting Situation

Today, what is the reality in evaluative practices in French public libraries ? Is information obtained by the use of performance indicators and inquiries or qualitative surveys exploited and, if so, in what way ? Is the process of evaluation inscribed in a general process of management controls ? What are the objectives of such an evaluation ? What are the conditions for its future ? A recent inquiry carried out within the framework of the public library section of the ifla brought out some answers to these several questions. The final appraisal bears witness to rather a contrasting situation.
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