RESOURCE CENTRE MANUAL
HEALTHLINK WORLDWIDE
11. Are systems for selection, indexing, cataloguing and retrieving information
cost-effective?
How much does it cost to process each material in the collection (in terms of
both staff time and materials)? How long does it take to process materials (for
example, accessioning, cataloguing and classifying, entering records onto the
database, and quality controlling)? Are these systems worth the staff time
involved, because they speed up the retrieval process, or do they take more
time than can be spared?
This information can be obtained by monitoring the time taken to process
materials, looking at the records of information searches that have been
carried out, how long searches have taken, and how far they have met users’
needs. Opinions expressed through staff and user discussions and
questionnaires are also important.
12. How can the resource centre increase its collection and improve its services in
the most cost-effective way?
This information can be obtained by listing ways in which the resource centre
can increase its collection and improve its services, and then identifying which
of these are least expensive in terms of money and staff time. Comments from
users can be obtained from the suggestions/comments box, monitoring forms,
and questionnaires and discussions.
13. What improvements are the most cost-effective and beneficial?
This can be decided by comparing improvements that are cost-effective with
what users most need, and reaching a balance. It makes no sense to offer
services that the resource centre cannot afford, but if there is a choice of
services that can be offered, the needs of the users should always come first.
12 SECTION 9: MONITORING AND EVALUATION