What is the quality in your quantity? : Library development assessment should look beyond mere numbers

Purpose – To outline the potential hazards of a purely numerical approach to evaluating development professionals and development programs. Design/methodology/approach – Narrative paper outlining various means used to assess a library development program. Findings – Library development assessment that utilizes quantitative analysis alone without substantive analysis of the underlying numbers will likely yield incorrect conclusions. Originality/value – Practical suggestions for utilizing qualitative techniques when assessing a library development program or development professional.