National Diet Library

• 1. About
• 2. Objectives
• 3. Systems
• 4. Developments

Activity Performance Evaluation is intended to establish a management cycle PLAN - DO - CHECK - ACT which drives our sustained effort to improve our services and ultimately to realize the Vision, the center of the National Diet Library’s objective.
The National Diet Library introduced Activity Evaluation in FY2004 as an essential tool to deliver appropriate service and management and to achieve accountability to the people. Taking the unique characteristics of the NDL’s tasks into account, it set out its own systems of evaluation to grade the progress and achievement of activities and projects.
Following the announcement of the “Vision for the NDL’s 60th anniversary”, we reviewed the Activity Evaluation in FY2007-2008 and replaced it with Activity Performance Evaluation. From FY2009 on, Activity Performance Evaluation is the cornerstone on which to carry out service improvement.

The NDL introduced Activity Performance Evaluation with the following two objectives:

(1) To provide efficient and high-quality activities
(2) To be more performance-oriented in pursuit of activities
(3) To achieve accountability as a national organization

(1) Vision
The vision sets out mid- and long- term basic policies for 5 to 10 years. We laid down “Vision for the NDL’s 60th anniversary” in FY2007, clarifying the role and the future directions of the NDL afresh at the time of 60th anniversary in FY2008.

(2) Priority Objectives
The Priority Objectives are set for the purpose of realizing the Vision. We set up Priority Objectives Evaluation Indicators and targets by which to assess the attainment level annually. The results are reflected in the activities of the following fiscal year and published on the NDL’s website.
We annually draw up detailed action plans in accordance with the Priority Objectives. Both Priority Objectives and action plans are subject to evaluation for progress and achievement at the end of each fiscal year and revised accordingly.

(3) Expert Council on Evaluation
To ensure the objectivity and neutrality of the evaluation, and to properly reflect the evaluation results in the activities of the National Diet Library, we have brought in the Expert Council on Evaluation. The Council provides the NDL with the opinions of outside experts on the objectives, plans, methods of evaluation and results, and reflection of the evaluation results in our activities.

(4) Performance measurement
Workloads are measured by various statistics and the timeframe for each service is calculated by sampling analysis. In addition, user surveys are annually conducted to ascertain customer satisfaction and demand for improvement.