Assessment @ CUL a quick introduction

before assessment…

… after assessment

What is assessment? “ To assess, in general, is to determine the importance, size, or value of; to evaluate. Library staff assess operations by collecting, interpreting, and using data to make decisions and improve customer service .” ARL Spec Kit #303, Library Assessment, December 2007

“ To assess, in general, is to determine the importance, size, or value of; to evaluate.

Library staff assess operations by collecting, interpreting, and using data to make decisions and improve customer service .”

ARL Spec Kit #303, Library Assessment, December 2007

“ Assessment” exists in many fields Some examples: Education : learning outcomes Auto Industry : crash tests Web design : usability studies Business : market research

Some examples:

Education : learning outcomes

Auto Industry : crash tests

Web design : usability studies

Business : market research

Why should we use assessment? To know more about library users and their needs To investigate possible new library services or resources To know more about your library To help allocate library resources Adapted from ARL Spec Kit #303, Library Assessment, December 2007

To know more about library users and their needs

To investigate possible new library services or resources

To know more about your library

To help allocate library resources

Adapted from ARL Spec Kit #303, Library Assessment, December 2007

Some assessment tools you might use: Surveys Focus groups Interviews Observational studies Website usability studies Collection use tools Anthropological methods

Surveys

Focus groups

Interviews

Observational studies

Website usability studies

Collection use tools

Anthropological methods

Building a Culture of Assessment A Culture of Assessment is an organizational environment in which decisions are based on facts, research and analysis. A Culture of Assessment exists in organizations where staff care to know what results they produce and how those results relate to customer expectations. From Amos Lakos: Implementing a “Culture of Assessment” Within the Information Commons (2004)

A Culture of Assessment is an organizational environment in which decisions are based on facts, research and analysis.

A Culture of Assessment exists in organizations where staff care to know what results they produce and how those results relate to customer expectations.

From Amos Lakos: Implementing a “Culture of Assessment” Within the Information Commons (2004)

Assessment is not : Evaluation of staff’s personal performance A way to see which library is “better” Anecdotal

Evaluation of staff’s personal performance

A way to see which library is “better”

Anecdotal

“ Assessment encompasses all areas of information gathering (qualitative and quantitative) and analysis in relation to decision-making and the management of the Libraries.” – CUL Assessment Plan Assessment @ CUL

“ Assessment encompasses all areas of information gathering (qualitative and quantitative) and analysis in relation to decision-making and the management of the Libraries.”

– CUL Assessment Plan

Assessment @ CUL Core principles: Improve service quality Gather high quality information to support library initiatives Analyze the information gathered Use assessment results to inform decisions Provide staff with access to the data they need Build a culture of assessment

Core principles:

Improve service quality

Gather high quality information to support library initiatives

Analyze the information gathered

Use assessment results to inform decisions

Provide staff with access to the data they need

Build a culture of assessment

Who conducts assessment @ CUL? Jeff Carroll (Collection Development) Joanna DiPasquale (LDPD) Joel Fine (Financial Services) Regina Golia ( ex officio, Training) Terry Kirchner (Access Services) Andy Moore (Butler Reserves) Nick Patterson (Access Services) Jennifer Rutner (Assessment Librarian, Chair ) Chengzhi Wang (Reference Services) 2. The Assessment Working Group (AWG) Everyone in the Libraries! CUL staff constantly gather data and make informed decisions, and always have.

Jeff Carroll (Collection Development)

Joanna DiPasquale (LDPD)

Joel Fine (Financial Services)

Regina Golia ( ex officio, Training)

Terry Kirchner (Access Services)

Andy Moore (Butler Reserves)

Nick Patterson (Access Services)

Jennifer Rutner (Assessment Librarian, Chair )

Chengzhi Wang (Reference Services)

Everyone in the Libraries!

CUL staff constantly gather data and make informed decisions, and always have.

Some Assessment Successes @ CUL Geology Library Renovation Questionnaire Digital Social Science Center User Needs Assessment Virtual Reference Assessment Developing an Assessment Plan for the Libraries Building a culture of assessment at the Libraries Establishing Assessment Forums for CUL staff The Assessment Center on SWIFT – a staff resource

Geology Library Renovation Questionnaire

Digital Social Science Center User Needs Assessment

Virtual Reference Assessment

Developing an Assessment Plan for the Libraries

Building a culture of assessment at the Libraries

Establishing Assessment Forums for CUL staff

The Assessment Center on SWIFT – a staff resource

An Assessment Example from CUL Project: Digital Social Sciences Center (DSSC) Needs Assessment Goals: Understand space, technology, and staffing needs to build the best DSSC possible Results : Here on CUL Assessment Center https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/libraries/staffweb/adm/assessment/results/dssc.html

Project: Digital Social Sciences Center (DSSC) Needs Assessment

Goals: Understand space, technology, and staffing needs to build the best DSSC possible

Results : Here on CUL Assessment Center

https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/libraries/staffweb/adm/assessment/results/dssc.html

Some AWG Services for Staff Assessment Project Consultations help staff identify information needs help staff selecting and developing assessment tools/methods help staff analyze and apply data Present Assessment Forums once each semester Help build a culture of assessment Provide info, data & support through the Assessment Center on SWIFT

Assessment Project Consultations

help staff identify information needs

help staff selecting and developing assessment tools/methods

help staff analyze and apply data

Present Assessment Forums once each semester

Help build a culture of assessment

Provide info, data & support through the Assessment

Center on SWIFT

Getting Started with Assessment S tart early It’s never too early to contact the AWG about an assessment need. Fill out the assessment initiation form Ensure adequate time & staff support to respond to the information gathered Choose the right assessment tools Apply the information to your library The AWG can help!

S tart early It’s never too early to contact the AWG about an assessment need.

Fill out the assessment initiation form

Ensure adequate time & staff support to respond to the information gathered

Choose the right assessment tools

Apply the information to your library

The AWG can help!

Contact us with questions! Assessment Working Group [email_address] More information: Assessment Center (on SWIFT) https://www1.columbia.edu/sec/cu/libraries/staffweb/adm/assessment/index.html

Assessment Working Group

[email_address]