Measuring performance and impact of rural community-led library initiatives in Thailand

Abstract

Reports the results of performance and impact evaluation of three community-led library initiatives in Central Thailand. The methodology included both quantitative and qualitative approaches. Point of exit interviews with library users were undertaken to gather their opinions on library collections, performance and impact. The constraints faced by community dwellers in using the libraries were also identified. Interviews with community leaders were conducted to gain their perspectives on the problems and how library services could be improved. The results showed that small-scale community-run library services have the potential to make a positive impact on community development. The results also yielded several implications for community-based libraries in Thailand, including how their services could be improved to have even greater impact on the communities they serve. A model for community libraries is provided which can be replicated to speed up rural development in Thailand and beyond.

Keywords

rural community libraries performance evaluation impact assessment rural development Thailand

Get full access to this article

View all access options for this article.

References

Ahmed, S.M.Z. ( 2009) The boat library of Bangprok community in Thailand: an evaluation of its performance and impact. New Library World , vol. 110, no. 11/12, 498-511.

Butdisuwan, S. ( 1999) Community libraries and information services in Thailand . In: Lao-Sunthara, M. and Wing, C. Eds. Libraries and librarianship in Thailand: From stone inscription to microchips. IFLA’99 National Organizing Committee, Bangkok, 62-70.

Butdisuwan, S. ( 2000) Reaching out through a mobile library. 66th IIFLA Council and General Conference, 13-18 August, Jerusalem, Israel. Available at: http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla66/papers/099-175e.htm (Accessed November 2009).

Cheunwattana, A. ( 1999) Delivering and promoting library services in rural Thailand . 65th IFLA Council and General Conference, 20-28 August, Bangkok, Thailand. Available at: http://archive.ifla.org/IV/ifla65/papers/023-114e.htm (Accessed July November 2009).

Dutta, R. ( 2009) Information needs and information-seeking behavior in developing countries. International Information & Library Review, vol. 41, no. 1, pp. 44-51.

Howitt, D. , and Cramer, D. ( 2008) Introduction to statistics in psychology. England Pearson.

Kibat, K.N. ( 1991) Community information and referral services for rural areas of Southeast Asia: a conceptual framework. Third World Libraries, vol. 1, no. 2, pp. 38-42.

Mchombu, K. ( 2003) Information dissemination for development: an impact study . Information Development, vol. 19, no. 2, pp. 111-125.

Menou, M. ( 1993) Measuring the impact of information on development. Ottawa: IDRC.

10.

Sacchanand, C. , Prommapun B. and Sajjanand, S. ( 2006) Performance evaluation of public libraries in Thailand . Bangkok: Education Council.

11.

Siltragool, W. ( 2007) Thailand: non-formal education, Country profile prepared for the Education for All Global Monitoring Report 2008 Education for All: Will we make it? Available at: http://unesdoc.unesco.org/images/0015/001555/155581e.pdf (Accessed August 2009).

12.

Suwanpitak, S. ( 2008) Thailand’s path to literacy. International Review of Education, vol. 54, pp. 763-771.

13.

UNDP (2007) Thailand Human Development Report 2007: Sufficiency economy and human development. Bangkok: UNDP.

14.

UNESCO (1992) An innovative approach to school and community library information services in Nakhon Nayok (Thailand): A UNESCO supported pilot project implemented by the Thai Library Association . Bangkok: UNESCO.

15.

UNESCO (1997) Rural information provision in developing countries - measuring performance and impact. Prepared for UNESCO on behalf of IFLA by A. F. Correa , K. J. Mchombu , D. Ndiaye , G. M. Rodriguez , D. Rosenberg and N. U. Yapa. Paris: UNESCO (CII-97/WS/11).

16.

UNESCO (2007) Strengthening community learning centres through linkages and networks: A synthesis of six country reports. Bangkok: UNESCO.