This is presentation on library assessment at Pitt University Library System delivered to iSchool Academic Librarianship Graduate students. December 2015.
1. B E R E N I K A W E B S T E R , P H D
U L S S T R A T E G I C A S S E S S M E N T U N I T
H T T P : / / W W W . L I B R A R Y . P I T T . E D U / A S S E S S M E N T
P I T T I S C H O O L L E C T U R E
8 D E C E M B E R 2 0 1 5
Library Assessment at ULS
4. Strategic Assessment Unit’s Mission is
… to coordinate data collection and analysis to support
both strategic and operational priorities of the
ULS and help ULS demonstrate value of its services
to all its stakeholders.
5. Since September 2013…
Coordinator of Strategic Assessment hired
Establishment of Strategic Assessment Unit
Developed Unit plan for 2014-2016, approved by
Senior Staff and incorporated into FY15 and FY16
Strategic Actions
Acting UL
Coordinator of
Strategic
Assessment
Assessment
Librarian
(currently
vacant)
Data Analyst
6. Who do we serve?
Internal stakeholders External stakeholders
ULS Senior Management needs to:
· demonstrate value/impact of ULS and its
services
· promote ULS and its services
· fundraise
· budget
· understand ranking and peer
comparisons
· report to University and external bodies
· understand staff culture and satisfaction
ULS service managers and committee chairs need:
• evaluation of services: user needs,
awareness, satisfaction and usage,
measured and perceived value and
impact
• evidence-based prioritization and
development of new services
• to track progress towards set goals
• to carry out staff performance
assessment
• to develop ability to plan and carry out
assessment activities
University administration (faculties and central) need:
· periodic and ad hoc reports (rankings,
trends, impact, strategic directions)
· support for grant proposals,
accreditations, etc.
Library patrons
· periodic and ad hoc reports (rankings,
trends, impact, strategic directions)
Professional bodies and peer institutions need:
· libraries to share the best practice
· periodic and ad hoc reports on inputs,
outputs and outcomes
15. Objective 3: demonstrate impact of ULS
services
Traditional library metrics
Number of volumes
Number of serials sub
Reference requests
Gate counts
Circulation stats
Anything else that moves and is
easy to count
New library metrics
Impact on student
recruitment and retention
Impact on student learning
outcomes
Contribution to research
excellence
Impact on community
Return on investment
16. Recruitment and retention
Library space is one of 3 top factors in
students’ choice of college
Student retention rates are
linked to state funding of
universities
17. Student learning outcomes: HEDS survey
SSoE undergrad project: positive correlation between frequency of use of library
materials and GPA
19. Contribution to research process
New services (needs analysis)
Data management
Digital humanities
Bibliometrics
Collections assessment
Neurology collection
Planned liaison programme assessment
Case studies and testimonials
23. Jack of all trades…
Researcher
Select appropriate data collection mechanism (satisfaction
survey is not always appropriate)
Design data collection
Analyse data
Communicate and interpret findings
Make recommendations
Communicator
Embedded into life of library
Relationships with central administration (institutional research,
research office, registrar, etc.)
Solid understanding of institutional mission and ambitions
24. Community
ARL Assessment Group with its listserv
ACRL assessment group
ARL Assessment leadership workshop
Annual conference (ARL and Northumbria)
Performance Measurements and Metrics
Association for Institutional Research (AIR)
website and annual forum