Evaluation of Libraries and Informations Units: A Proposition to Adopt Participatory Research Techniques In Order To Build Management Tools

Introduction. We report an investigation designed to present a specific model to build management tools for libraries and information units. A management evaluation model is shown to be necessary, because these units are undergoing transformations more sharply than other organizations, therefore changes and strategies need to be monitored and controlled. Method. Questionnaires, interviews, meetings and documentary research were conducted with a researcher at Bras¨ªia University, Bras¨ªlia, Brazil. Participative methodology was used for data collection in order to get staffs commitment and involvement in the process of building management tools. Participative research showed important because its use helped participants to solve problems as well as to deal with control and management tolls. Analysis. Transcription of the interviews, recorded tape of meetings, documents and questionnaires tabulation formed the data for analysis. Principles of grounded theory were adopted, notably coding that allows recursive data analysis to be used to obtain the consensus from participants about what need to be measured. Results. It proved possible to build management tools for libraries and information units applying participatory techniques. The investigation resulted in a set of coherent and fully contextualized indicators for a selected information unit. Conclusions. Participatory techniques appear to be appropriated to enable managers and employees to handle information in order to solve problems. Commitment and involvement of participants were observed, and this is the most important finding of this investigation.