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Funding and governance of library and information services for visually impaired people: international case studies
Part2:Country studies
Canada
Measuring success
CNIB
CNIB Library measures the effectiveness of its service: circulation statistics, number of collection items available, service statistics (calls, e-mails, etc.), number of clients served. Targets are revised annually
The following measures are used:
- Proportion of Visually Impaired People reached by services
- Cost to public or charitable funds
- Range and depth of material available
- Speed of supplying item
- What users think of the service
The proportion of visually impaired people reached, the range and depth of material available, the speed of supply and users’ views of the service are the measurements currently focused on by the CNIB Library.
It is anticipated that broader national targets will be developed by CLA and LAC ? the first targets would likely be range and depth of material available. CNIB is overall successful. However, charitable funding is insufficient to address the need for a significant increase in the percentage of alternative format material that is required.
Currently agencies set their own targets. It is anticipated that CLA and Library and Archives Canada through the nationwide network initiative will establish national standards and targets.
The CLA Opening the Book report uses the number of books available in alternative format as one measure. Currently the number is less than 5% of published print information. The report identifies the need to decrease the gap by an additional 5% over the next few years as a start.