 |
|
What does QSAC
stand for?
|
|
QSAC is the acronym used for Quality
Services Audit Checklist.
It is a set of measures Michigan Public Libraries can use
to benchmark the quality of services they are providing their
citizens. The
measures come in three sets, Essential, Enhanced and Excellent.
|
|
How does QSAC
work?
|
|
Michigan Public Libraries interested in
seeing how they are performing contact the Library of Michigan
and begin the audit process.
The process begins at the Essential level and entails a
self-study of seven different areas.
These areas are; Human Resources,
Governance/Administration, Services, Collection Development,
Technology, Facilities and Equipment and Public Relations.
|
|
What do
libraries receive for achieving Essential, Enhanced, or
Excellent levels of service?
|
|
When a library achieves any of the three
levels, they receive a letter and certificate from the Library
of Michigan and their state representative and senator will be
sent a letter detailing their achievement. Sample press releases
will accompany the award.
|
|
That
sounds like a lot of work just for a certificate, why
bother?
|
|
“The QSAC audit is the perfect tool for a new
library director to, 1) identify strengths and weaknesses of the
library, 2) illustrate what the service population is getting
for their money and 3) educate the public, and local community
leaders on how their library stacks up against libraries
statewide.”
-David Conklin,
Shelby Township Library Director
|
|
Ok,
so how does our library stack up?
|
|
On November 16, 2009,
the Shelby Township Library received QSAC Essential
Certification! Although the library does not meet the
essential requirements of square foot per capita, the library
has met or exceeded all the other essential measures and was
apply to qualify by applying for a waiver for the square foot
per capita requirement.
|
|
Whoa…
hold on square footage per capita…?
|
|
What this quality measure represents is the
size of the library in square feet calculated on the service
area population.
The Essential formula for Shelby Township
currently is “.75 x .5 x 71,984*”.
The end result is 26,994 square feet.
The Library currently has 12,500 square feet.
The library does not come close to meeting what the State
of Michigan considers
Essential for our service population size.
* Based on latest Census Data (2007 ACS
data)
|
|
|
|
That
sounds like a good plan.
Then you can just kick back
and bask in library glory… right?
|
|
Uh… no, the library will then begin the
process of achieving the second of the three standards- the
Enhanced Certification.
Even if the library currently has no hope of reaching all of the
standards, they are good measures to strive for.
|
