Exploring Performance Information Enactment in a Case Study of Australian Public Libraries

Abstract

Local governments embrace performance management practices where performance information is central to managing and improving services. Extant literature focus on measuring performance and the factors influencing performance information use, however, the role of performance information use remains vague. We draw on practice theory to analyse a qualitative longitudinal case study of Australian public libraries comprised of semi- structured interviews, unobtrusive observations and document analysis. We explore logic of performance information enactment including the entwinement and longitudinal decomposition via temporality. Findings illuminate that librarians are entwined in automated systems that quantitatively capture patrons borrowing and usage statistics with limited entwinement of qualitative insights about patron experiences. Further, the library lack consistent methods to record retrieve and use subjective insights from library patrons and those are discouraged by library management and staff. Resul...