Counting what counts: performance measurement and evidence-based practice

Purpose - The purpose of this paper is to explore conceptual and practical links between performance measurement and evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) and to identify lessons to be learned from evidence-based healthcare. Design/methodology/approach - The paper presents a selective review of key writings in EBLIP for reference to performance measurement. Findings - The paper finds that performance measurement may variously be viewed as one small, but essential, stage of EBLIP or an overarching approach to utilisation of data of which research-derived evidence is a single source Research limitations/implications - Similarities and potential linkages between the two activities are currently underdeveloped and need to be explored through rigorous empirical research. Practical implications - The stages of EBLIP are modelled in relation to a single case study of reference checking. Originality/value - This is the first article to develop explicit links between these two areas of information practice, following in passim mentions at previous conferences.