EBSM® Phases

There are 4 distinct Phases of EBSM, which define the journey towards Excellence in library stock performance.



These Phases can be summarised as follows:

Phase Phase Description
Assessment Gaining an understanding of the current stock performance position, and setting up the initial EBSM configuration specific to a Library Service.
Acclimitisation Getting to know EBSM better - fine tuning targets and processes to meet a Library Service's exact needs.
Consolidation The longest EBSM Phase - running with the methodology on a collection by collection basis and improving towards targets.
Excellence Recognising that good performance isn't enough, and striving for improvement towards stretch targets.

At monthly intervals throughout each of the Phases, a set of performance measurements is calculated for a Library Service. These performance measurements record the improvement against each of the EBSM KPIs over time - showing improvement from the start of EBSM adoption to now, and improvement from last month to now.

Importantly, these performance measurements are also compared with targets, to enable detailed Action Plans to be created.

Throughout the journey towards Excellence, the progress towards a Library Service's performance targets will generally be regular and measurable - though not always steady.

During the Assessment Phase the calculated performance figures will almost certainly be significantly (and perhaps worryingly) short of targets - this will simply reflect the reality that a framework for continuous stock performance improvement has not been in place in the past.

During the Acclimitisation Phase, it is not unusual for performance improvements to stutter. This will be as a result of the changing targets that will be put in place as a Library Service gains better insight into the targets that are achievable and realistic across its many collections.

Throughout the Consolidation Phase, steady progress towards targets should resume, as EBSM becomes the accepted day to day means of improving stock condition, quality and relevance - in other words as EBSM becomes ingrained into the Library Service.

For many authorities, moving from Consolidation to Excellence may never happen. However for those authorities who strive for excellence, further stretch targets will be put in place at this stage to drive the improvement process onto higher plains.