USES OF BALANCE SCORE CARD (BSC) FOR EFFECTIVE SERVICE DELIVERY IN NIGERIAN ACADEMIC LIBRARIES

Abstract

Performance measurement and evaluation is important in every sector. There is need to track and evaluate performance to enhance productivity in sectors including education. There is continuous need for libraries to constantly evaluate performance as libraries are faced with several situations challenging their existence and essence. Libraries have been challenged by stakeholders ranging from their parent institutions, sponsors and some levels of government to justify their existence and budgetary allocation. Researchers have however explored several performance evaluation models and discovered that Balance Score Card (BSC) is an effective and result oriented model that has been explored by several institutions and libraries in developing worlds. Studies have likewise shown that, majority of libraries in Nigeria are yet to explore the benefits of the performance model to their fullest advantage considering the level of innovation and technological advancement. Libraries perform several activities and function which technology and other innovations can help facilitate and ease. Strategies have been suggested based on studies for Nigerian libraries to enable them perform to the fullest using the performance model. This study therefore describes and suggests that libraries especially academic libraries in Nigeria should try to explore and integrate the Balance Score Card (BSC) model in their operations and service delivery. It is important to note that BSC has been put to test by several institutions and libraries and discovered to be worthwhile model for library growth.