With the rapid increase in demand of new digital services, the high cost of
information, and the dramatic economic slowdown, libraries have been
pressured to improve their services at lower costs. To cope with these
conditions, library managers must improve their knowledge and understanding
of cost behavior, as well as be aware of the different costs involved in the
library. Time-Driven Activity-Based Costing (TDABC) is a cost management
technique that allows developing accurate cost information on a wide range of
activities. Few case studies have been implemented in libraries regarding very
specific processes such as inter-library loan and acquisition processes. More
research is still needed to determine whether TDABC is useful and feasible to
implement for a more extensive set of library activities. Through an analysis
performed at an academic library in Belgium, this document introduces TDABC
as a useful method for supporting lending and returning processes.