The document provides guidance on conducting library evaluations to assess performance and identify areas for improvement. It recommends evaluating both quantitative metrics like circulation as well as qualitative factors from an exterior evaluation of the building to an analysis of youth services and policies. The evaluation should involve stakeholders and have clear objectives and goals set by the librarian and board. Findings should then be analyzed, an action plan created, and improvements implemented to enhance the library.

1. Library
Evaluations:
Community Involvement, On-going Improvement,
Results!
GailSanty
CentralKansasLibrarySystem

2. Why?
• Good management is based on good decision making. Good
decision making depends on good information and an
action or strategic plan to move the library forward.
• Take a good look at your organization from all angles. You
will be able to you determine what works and what could
be different.
• A good evaluation is honest and brings a focus to the need
for a healthy, vibrant library in your community.
• The evaluation can be the launching point for a planned
change effort. It can motivate a sluggish board or staff, or
help a funder make better funding decisions.

3. Objectives and Goals
• The Librarian and Board communicate the goals for
the evaluation with the Evaluation Team.
• What do you want for your library?
• What does the community need the library to be?

4. Participatory evaluations
• Uncover potential issues by involving key players
in evaluation- staff at all levels, patrons,
community members, library volunteers, Friends,
city personnel.
• Promote Evaluators learning about the library and
its performance. Widen their point of view.
• Mobilize stakeholders, enhance teamwork, and
build shared commitment to act on evaluation
recommendations.

5. Who to recruit
• A good evaluation is inclusive, complete, and unbiased.
Differing viewpoints are welcomed and valued.
• Use sensitive, impartial, experienced, and skilled people to
conduct the evaluation to get the best results.
• Evaluators should possess an understanding of the library
as an organization, industry knowledge, and building skills.
Ideally an assessment team will have at several members to
allow for a broader range of expertise and to complete
coverage.
• Involving your community in the evaluation improves
credibility and increases awareness of the library’s
strengths and challenges.

6. Create a Culture of
Evaluation
• A critical ingredient for developing and maintaining
momentum within your library is the establishment of
a positive, productive image of the evaluation and its
use within your organization’s culture.
• Involve appropriate staff in the development of
evaluation.
• Have staff regularly review, discuss, and act on
evaluation findings.
• Board members and top leadership own and act on
the evaluation findings.

7. Accurate and complete
information
• Ensure that the Board and staff are committed to the
evaluation process and that they provide honest,
thoughtful information when queried.
• Select Evaluators who inspire confidence in your
community and assure impartiality throughout the
process.
• Be transparent about what information will be shared,
with whom it will be shared, and how the findings will
be used to move the library forward.

8. Exterior
• Parking and sidewalk
• Landscaping, bike rack, flagpole
• Outside walls and front door
• Roof
• Building: hvac, safety systems, exits,
structurally sound

9. Interior
• Attractive, clean, clear
• Lighting
• Signage
• Seating and flooring
• First impressions

10. Organization
• Cataloging
• Shelf and materials organization and location:
Neat, clean, condition, logical flow, spine
labels, signage for collections and end panels
• Collection age: Technology, law, medicine,
local history/genealogy
• Display

11. ADA
• Outside and parking
• Doors outside and inside
• Clear handicapped route inside
• Drinking fountains and restrooms
• Stack aisles and furniture

12. Policies
• Do policies violate state law
• Are policies outdated
• Do policies have confusing wording
• Are any policies difficult to implement
• Do any policies seem overly restrictive

13. Policies
• Consider these policies:
• Selection/Collection Management
• Building/Meeting Room Use
• Personnel
• Confidentiality of Library Records
• Gifts and Donations
• Appropriate Use of Online Services
• Continuing Education

14. Policies
• Emergency Preparedness/Disaster Recovery
• Public Services
• Intellectual Freedom
• Budget and Finance
• Equipment Use
• Patron Behavior
• Capital Improvements
• Surplus Property

15. Youth Services
• Friendly and welcoming to youth
• Adequate space for storage and programming
• Child-proof
• Furnishings: chairs, tables, shelving, seating
• Collaborates with local entities to provide
programs for youth

16. Computers
• Software up-to-date
• Working and clean peripherals
• Hard drives locked down
• Back up process and schedule for updating
• Furniture, printers, cables, networking

17. Extras
• Spreadsheets for librarians:
• Shelf Shuffler
• Collection Manager
• Data Collector
• Library Comparisons
http://spreadsheetsforlibrarians.blogspot.com/

18. Analyze the Findings
• Work with the Library Board and stakeholders to reach
a common understanding on findings, conclusions,
and recommendations.
• The common understanding becomes the cornerstone
for a group commitment to a plan of action.

19. Prepare an action plan
• Work with the Library Board and other stakeholders to
prepare an action plan to improve where desired and
needed.
• This turns the evaluation and any possible weaknesses
into positive action steps.
• Librarians and Library Boards become agents of
change and apply their new knowledge into action
steps to improve the library on many levels.

20. References and
Resources
• Building Condition Manual
http://tinyurl.com/nejcxca
• Conducting a Participatory Evaluation
http://tinyurl.com/mvfj5dh
• Create a Culture of Evaluation
http://tinyurl.com/asx7obb
• Six Keys to Successful Organizational Assessment
http://tinyurl.com/kd3ezou