THE BEST ADMINISTRATIVE PRACTICES: an empirical investigation of the Municipal Public Library System of the State of Pernambuco, Brazil

Abstract

The objective of the present study is the identification of the administrative experiences of success (best practices) of the municipal public libraries (BPM) from the State of Pernambuco, Brazil, that can be for the establishment of administration patterns (benchmarking) for the others. They were analyzed the referring data to 24 coming variables of the reports of the 176 (BPM) in the period of 1998-2002. They were chosen BPM that stayed, during that period, among best ten. In Pernambuco, 1.067.049 consultations were accomplished in the year 2002 by the BPM system. In case it roots possible to adopt in all the BPM the average of the ten better values, the number of consultations if it would elevate for 5.695.736, in other words, 1.481%. Several statistical models (multiple regressions and factorial analysis) they were used, also, trying to explain the factors that influenced the selected variables. They were discussed, still, some suggestions make effective a policy for the BPM´s system, as well as some international experiences.