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An Assessment Case Study ( in progress ): Ross Pendergraft Library

An Assessment Case Study ( in progress ): Ross Pendergraft Library. Bill Parton, Director of Library Arkansas Tech University March 2, 2009. Assessment in Libraries ( a little history ). Inputs (books, bricks & mortar) – Size Matters Scholarly collections & status symbols

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An Assessment Case Study ( in progress ): Ross Pendergraft Library

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  1. An Assessment Case Study(in progress):Ross Pendergraft Library Bill Parton, Director of Library Arkansas Tech University March 2, 2009

  2. Assessment in Libraries (a little history) • Inputs (books, bricks & mortar) – Size Matters • Scholarly collections & status symbols • The printing press & a publishing revolution • The “edifice complex” • Outputs (services) – Usage Matters • Loans • Reference & information assistance • Group/individual presentations & instruction • Outcomes – Impact Matters (but it is much harder to measure)

  3. Assessment in Tomlinson & Pendergraft Libraries • Statistics (inputs & outputs) • Collection size & growth; staff; hours open • Circulation; reference; interlibrary loan • Surveys • User satisfaction (annual, more or less) • Other Student & Faculty Feedback • Suggestions • Library Committee; SGA; Faculty Senate • Assessment Plans & Accreditation (2002-2008) • Used existing data-gathering & feedback mechanisms

  4. The Enlightenment • Assessment in Library Literature and at Conferences • ARL Library Assessment Conference • 1st held in September 2006 at University of Virginia • Grant from University Assessment Committee to attend 2nd • Held at University of Washington • 375 participants (2 AR universities represented) • Attitude Surprise • Not because we have to • A tool for continuous, systematic, data-driven improvement • Each institution’s approach reflects its uniqueness

  5. Obsessing About Assessing • Assessment Begins with Mission • “Do, a deer…” – start from the beginning • Entire Library full-time staff involved • The old mission statement • What is it we really do? Why are we here? • The New Mission Statement • … and a Statement of Core Values • The “how” and the “why” that informs the “what”

  6. How Do We Measure It? • Plan must (or should) be … • Mission-based • Data-driven • Systematic (objective process) & systemic (integrate) • Quantitative & Qualitative Measures • Start from the mission • Inputs & outputs that affect outcomes • The worksheet

  7. One Gantt Step… • The Plan • Identify all assessment activities • Order them logically • Add the dimension of time (i.e. one year) • The Gantt Chart

  8. The Survey • LibQUAL+ • What is it? • Should we or shouldn’t we? • The Old Becomes New • Library user satisfaction survey (revised edition) • Focus more on the comments/suggestions • … and who made them (try to understand context) • Follow-Ups • Focus groups? • Interviews?

  9. Sharing … and Looking Ahead • COLLIB-L • I offered to share • They accepted (over 70 to date) • Some counter-offered work or suggestions of their own • Something Wiki This Way Comes • What Now? • What’s missing? • How do we define success? Objective criteria? • Take the “Conversation” to a Higher Level • A culture of assessment … or a culture of analysis? • A continuous dialogue with (and among) our “customers” … and ourselves?

  10. Q & A Questions? Answers? Thank you! Bill Parton, Pendergraft 104 (479) 968-0417 wparton@atu.edu

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