The Library Council of NSW has developed a set of recommended standards across four domains: service delivery, collections, community engagement and library facilities. The standards provide a framework for assessing performance and fostering continuous improvement.
The standards are informed by data from the annual Public Library Statistics compiled by the State Library of NSW, alongside insights gathered during regular assessment visits conducted by State Library staff.
They are designed to assist public libraries and councils to evaluate current services, set targets for improvement, develop continuous improvement in service delivery and plan for future needs.
Rather than presenting theoretical targets, they highlight benchmarks already achieved by leading libraries. While the application of these standards will vary depending on local circumstances, the inclusion of best practice figures provides a valuable reference point for councils in setting service objectives.
The Library Council acknowledges that some councils may face short-term challenges in meeting certain standards particularly those related to expanding library space, growing collections, and increasing membership. These are recognised as longer-term goals. Nevertheless, the committed effort by all councils to work toward or exceed these standards will lead to meaningful improvements in public library services for the people of New South Wales.
Targets and measures
The standards provide numerical targets for 15 key measures covering service delivery, collections, community engagement and library facilities.
Each standard includes fixed performance targets and measures, clearly defined terminology, and guidance on interpretation and application. It also identifies relevant data sources and specifies the methods used for calculating and assessing performance.
Targets are presented as the expected level of achievement within each population cohort. Enhanced targets set a more aspirational goal for library services that have achieved the target level.
How to measure library performance
To measure your library’s performance against a standard, use the specific measure and calculation listed under that standard. The data source indicates where to locate this data for your library within the Public Library Statistics. This ensures consistency and comparability across libraries when assessing performance.
Population cohorts
To support meaningful comparison, library services are grouped into population-based cohorts, classified as either rural or urban using Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) definitions:
- Rural small – population up to 20,000
- Urban small – population 20,001 – 50,000
- Urban medium – population 50,001 – 150,000
- Urban large – population over 150,001
Population refers to the number of people living in the area served by the library service, based on the ABS Estimated Resident Population (ERP) figures.
Regional libraries
For councils participating in a regional library agreement, individual library services can assess their performance by applying the standards relevant to the population cohort for their local government area. Note that this approach may not fully account for the economies of scale and operational efficiencies gained through regional collaboration.