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Community Assessment for Eurekans

Community Assessment for Eurekans. Dr. Cindy Mediavilla Library Programs Consultant. Friday, February 21, 2014 12 Noon Pacific . Why is community assessment important?. To start our conversation, Type your thoughts into the chat box. Community. Community =

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Community Assessment for Eurekans

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  1. Community Assessment for Eurekans Dr. Cindy Mediavilla Library Programs Consultant Friday, February 21, 2014 12 Noon Pacific

  2. Why is community assessment important? To start our conversation, Type your thoughts into the chat box.

  3. Community Community = Target population the library exists to serve

  4. Community assessments Should always be conducted from the community’s – not the library’s – point of view

  5. Why conduct community assessments? • Tell us which new library services and programs are needed • Inform collection development • Often required as part of grant applications

  6. Why grants require “needs statements” • Grants should always be written to resolve a problem • Funders want to provide services to meet community needs

  7. Developing a community assessment strategy • Why assess the community? • Which population(s)? • Which data already exist? • Barriers to assessment? • Which methodologies?

  8. Assessment techniques Let’s take a Poll

  9. Environmental scans • Background data that already exist • Help put other data into context • Should probably be conducted first before other data-gathering techniques

  10. External data about the community • Demographics • Economic conditions • Community setting • Technological sophistication • Sociocultural realities

  11. Internal data about the library • Organizational history and culture • Service priorities • Human and “non-human” assets • Technology infrastructure • Sources of support

  12. Tips for successful environmental scans • Use the forms • List sources of information gathered

  13. Observation • Formal study of events and/or activities as they occur • Confirm or deny participants’ perceptions • Collect unspoken data that might never be revealed otherwise

  14. Types of data collected through observation • Participant behavior in a given situation • Steps of a particular process • How long it takes to accomplish a task • Traffic patterns inside/outside the library • How activities change over time

  15. Tips for successful observations • Try to be unobtrusive • Take notes • Spend time observing • Observe and compare activities

  16. Key informant interviews • One-on-one interviews with key community leaders • Identify target community’s areas of concern and interest • May provide access to other community members

  17. Tips for successful key informant interviews • Go to them • Send questions beforehand • Build rapport before interviewing • Focus on community needs/interests, not the library • Take notes

  18. Surveys • Usually anonymous method to get direct input from target population • More than one way to conduct • Relatively easy to administer and tabulate • Questions elicit specific feedback

  19. Tips for successful surveys • The shorter the better • Use simple language • One concept per question • Don’t use too many question styles • Test surveys before administering

  20. Focus groups • Moderated but unstructured small group discussions to elicit input on specific topic(s) • May be used to help design surveys and/or provide follow-up information • Not anonymous • May create false expectations • Often difficult to tabulate

  21. Tips for successful focus groups • Homogeneous groups of 6-10 participants • 5-7 questions maximum • 30-90 minutes • Provide an incentive to participate • Record discussion and take notes

  22. Common assessment mistakes and how to avoid • Not knowing the target population well enough beforehand • Biased instruments/techniques • Focus on library and on not the community • Ignored non-users

  23. Using assessment data to justify a grant need • Funders want to know how their money will be used to help the community • Cite findings that have informed your grant project • Triangulate!

  24. Questions?

  25. Thank you. Cindy.Mediavilla@library.ca.gov 310-915-8588

  26. Infopeople webinars are supported in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian. This material is licensed under a Creative Commons 3.0 Share & Share-Alike license. Use of this material should credit the author and funding source.

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