Measuring and assessing the impact of using volunteers in UK libraries: issues and methods

Abstract

Broady-Preston, J. (2014). Measuring and assessing the impact of using volunteers in UK libraries: issues and methods. Performance Measurement and Metrics, 15(3), 112-121.Purpose ? The purpose of this paper is to examine a range of issues and methods in relation to measuring the impact of volunteer labour on the design and delivery of all types of library services. With the increasing use of volunteers to deliver library and information services in all sectors, managers need to assess their effectiveness and evaluate the impact of their use in relation to operational service design and delivery, and on the development of the profession and professional practice as a whole. Presented here is an initial scoping study, outlining a range of issues, methods and challenges for more detailed future investigation. Design/methodology/approach ? A number of methodological challenges and perspectives are identifiable. Contemporary libraries exhibit increasing similarities with Third Sector organisations, namely a complex stakeholder community, and increasing use of volunteers to supplement or replace services delivered by professional staff. Therefore, a starting point for the research is a systematic review and analysis of the methodologies developed by the Third Sector Research Centre, and those studies in the ESRC contemporary Developing Impact Evaluation strand. As a rich picture is required, both quantitative and qualitative approaches are necessary, with the overall study adopting a mixed methods approach. Findings ? This paper reports the findings of the preliminary documentary analysis, literature review and scoping aspects of a large-scale study. Originality/value ? Research undertaken to date (June 2014) has failed to identify any published systematic review and examination of these issues.preprintPeer reviewe

Event Cocreation in Street Events: Evidence from Athens Pride

“…A workshop was created on the basis of a series of interviews with the museum management team, a visit to the museum, and a review of social media postings from visitors to the museum. The literature review addresses the concepts of hospitality (Brotherton, 1999;King, 1995;Kelly, Losekoot & Wright-StClair, 2016;Lashley, 2008;Nailon, 1982;O'Gorman, 2005;2007; and also the challenges and opportunities that volunteering provides in the heritage and other sectors of tourism (Broady-Preston, 2014;Howlett, 2002;Lockstone, Smith & Baum, 2010;Lynch & Smith, 2010;Poll, 2018;Smithson, Rowley & Fullwood, 2018). The literature discusses the situation of using volunteers for front-of-house (social skills) but not for back-of-house curatorial (technical skills) roles which are often salaried.…”

Staffing with students

“…Part of the burden of volunteer labor concerns the irregular schedules of volunteers, which “can be an administrative chore to plan around […] and to coordinate work projects that involve multiple volunteers or volunteers paired with staff” (Leonard, 2012, p. 316). An additional concern with volunteers in libraries is the possibility of unpaid volunteer labor replacing paid staff positions (Broady-Preston, 2014, p. 114). It is important to distinguish between volunteers who are providing additional services at the library and volunteers who are directly replacing paid staff who provide core library services.…”