Self-assessment at a click: adapting the CAF online system tolibrary purposes

Abstract

The organisational self-assessment of libraries should be conducted expediently, without the assessment imposing an un-reasonable burden on the organisation’s staff. The resources allocated to the assessment should in each case be proportional to the degree and positive effects of development achiev-able on the basis of the results. Experience indicates that the organisational self-assessment processes can be found − almost fully − automated. With the use of modern information and communication methods, assessments can be performed faster and more efficiently than with traditional data recording and evaluation methods. Possibilities offered by the electronic environment significantly facilitate contacts between staff col-laborating in self-assessment and support the evaluation, widely accessible publication and awareness-raising of assessment results. The findings of the organisational self-assessments carried out at the libraries of the Eötvös Loránd University (ELTE) University Library Service suggest that the applied IT solutions can significantly affect the success of the assessment. The e-learning system of ELTE, Moodle, played a key role in implementation, which has supported the K21 quality improve-ment project of the university library network and the working activity since 2008. In terms of the future, the author proposed the use of an additional online self-assessment support system with the adaptation of the CAF online software, coordinated by the Department of Public Administration Development and Strategic Planning of the Ministry of Public Administration and Justice, and developed for Hungarian public administration institutions, in accordance with the principles of the Common Library Evaluation Framework. The article summarizes the experiences and suggestions on the CAF online system.