The Library Assessment Journey at Emory

1
The Library Assessment Journey at Emory

• For MLAW Meeting
• ALA Midwinter
• January 20, 2006
• Susan B. Bailey
• Library Assessment Coordinator

2
Emory Libraries

• Robert W. Woodruff Library (Main)also includes
  Business Library, Chemistry, Music/Media Library,
  MARBL
• About 170 staff members 62 professional staff
  108 support staff
• Other Emory libraries Oxford College, Health,
  Law, Theology

3
Definitions of Assessment

• "As commonly used today, the term assessment can
  refer to two very different activities (a) the
  mere gathering of information (measurement) and
  (b) the utilization of that information for
  institutional and individual improvement
  (evaluation)." (Assessment for Excellence,
  Alexander Astin)

4
Where Weve Been

• Library reorganization in 2001, introduced the
  Office of Program Assessment and Coordination,
  and Market Councils
• LibQual conducted 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005-shared
  results and comments used results to inform the
  negotiation of Copy Services contract and in
  planning for Candler Library renovation
• Usability testing and incorporation of feedback
  in Business and General Libraries web redesigns

5
Current State

• University strategic planning process began in
  March 2004 with new leadership in place--
  emphasized goals, measures, targets
• Library Assessment Coordinator position filled
  September 1, 2005
• Planning and assessment are joined in the newly
  created Office of Planning and Assessment
• Proposal to senior leadership group to create two
  groups, Library Assessment Council (LAC) and
  Assessment Integration Group (AIG), presented
  September 1, approved
• First LAC meeting on September 14
• First AIG meeting on October 31
• ARL VPO (Visiting Program Officer) visit December
  5 and 6 received report on January 12

6
Library Assessment Council

• Provides oversight for the librarys assessment
  program--program elements are coordinated and
  there is a common body of knowledge about the
  programs direction and priorities
• Composed of Library Assessment Coordinator,
  Director Office of Planning and Assessment, Human
  Resources Officer, Director of Office of Finance
  and Budget

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Assessment Integration Group

• Coordinates, promotes, and monitors assessment
  efforts in the library, supporting and sustaining
  a user-centered environment in which decisions
  are based on facts, research and analysis, and
  where services are planned and delivered in ways
  which maximize positive outcomes and impacts for
  customers and stakeholders
• Composed of 14 volunteers from throughout the
  library

8
Market Councils

• Individual Councils
• Area and International Studies
• Business
• Humanities
• Science
• Social Science
• Undergraduate
• Coordinating Group-conveners of the individual
  Councils, meets monthly

9
Preparing for their Visit

• Supplied the information they requested
• Looked for ways to engage staff members from
  throughout the organization, especially for the
  all-staff meeting
• Determined the groups for them to meet with,
  having an eye to covering as much of the library
  organization as possiblethey provided several
  sample schedules that were very helpful in
  looking at ways to arrange the day and a half!

10
Documents Sent to VPOs

• All LibQual data from 2003 and 2005 surveys
• Market Council summit meeting notes
• Organizational Task Force documents
• Librarys strategic plan document
• Expectations for the visit
• Potential follow-up projects

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InfoForum

• InfoForum sessions are scheduled alternating
  Thursdays--sessions at which anyone in the
  library can share information with staff on a
  project or initiative
• Thursday prior to the ARL VPO visit, a session
  was held to provide an overview of the process
  and to refresh staff members on the work leading
  up to the project visit

12
Follow the Yellow Brick Road

• The Journey to Sustainable Library Assessment
• InfoForum
• December 1, 2005

13
Expectations and Outcomes

• I expected the worst, knowing that we hadnt
  done as much follow-up on previous assessment
  efforts as we could haveThey provided much
  feedback that was positive and encouraging rather
  than truly negative
• The amount of work Jim and Steve did prior to the
  visit, plus all they shared with us during the
  visit gave us many ideas on things to do better
  and differently, follow-up items
• The follow-up project doesnt have to be
  pre-determined-- be open during the visit to
  their ideas of what best utilizes the process!

14
Tips for Getting the Most from the MLAW project

• Prepare for the VPO visit! Gather information,
  engage staff from throughout the organization
• Find out what the VPOs want from you as soon as
  possible, especially if you have to rely on
  others to provide the data
• Be as specific as possible when you ask people
  for the statistical informationat Emory, we
  still got the data in a number of different
  formats

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What Would I Have Done Differently?

• Designed a format for the statistics information
  that enabled me to get the data formatted for
  sending more easily
• Might have scheduled more than one
  Info-Forum-type all-staff meeting prior to the
  visit
• Would have tried to provide the information to
  VPOs more concisely

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Next Steps

• Meet with VPOs at ALA Midwinter to work on the
  follow-up project
• Discuss the report at ESG (Executive Strategy
  Group), then discuss in LAC and AIG
• Conduct all-staff information sharing meeting
• Use the follow-up project to further the journey
  toward sustainable assessment!

17
Questions?

• Contact information
• Susan Bailey
• Library Assessment Coordinator
• Woodruff Library, Candler 304
• libsbb_at_emory.edu