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Challenges for Library Assessment. Susan Gibbons Vice Provost Andrew H. & Janet Dayton Neilly Dean River Campus Libraries University of Rochester. Attraction of the Quantitative. We love to count Precision Automated Weighty What are we counting? What do the numbers actually tell us?.
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Challenges for Library Assessment Susan Gibbons Vice Provost Andrew H. & Janet Dayton Neilly Dean River Campus Libraries University of Rochester
Attraction of the Quantitative • We love to count • Precision • Automated • Weighty • What are we counting? • What do the numbers actually tell us?
Reference Queries • 97, 850 queries in 1996 • 47,950 queries in 2006 • It’s all because of the Internet, right?
Reference Queries • 97, 850 queries in 1996 • 47,950 queries in 2006 • It’s all because of the Internet, right? • Computer queues
Show us what you carry with You all of the time.
Reference Queries • 97, 850 queries in 1996 • 47,950 queries in 2006 • It’s all because of the Internet, right? • Computer queues • 41% of ARL library homepages don’t have phone numbers
2-3 miles • Out of dorm by 8:30am • Peek study 11pm-1am • Few formal meals • Carrying everything • Very structured & busy
Reference Queries • 97, 850 queries in 1996 • 47,950 queries in 2006 • It’s all because of the Internet, right? • Computer queues • 41% of ARL library homepages don’t have phone numbers • Reference hours are off student schedules
Bibliographic Tools • Graduate students’ magic wand • Bibliographic tool • EndNote • RefWorks • Bibliographic tool • Marketing campaign • Bibliographic tool • Timing is everything
Assessment • Every campus is different; • therefore every library’s services, digital presence and facilities must be different; • therefore, every library needs local assessment methods • Remember: Accountability is local
Qualitative Assessment • Growing toolkit • Skill set is usually within reach • Subject recruitment is not hard • Opportunity for wide participation • Share experience leads to better and easier execution of change