Assessment & the Value of Academic Libraries

Assessment & theValue of Academic Libraries

Kelly Lambert

AAHH!!! ASSESSMENT!!!

Poll: Why should libraries assess?

Session Objectives

Identify data sources that can be used to support the value of academic libraries.

Discuss nationally recognized information literacy assessment instruments.

Share tips for successful assessment implementation and ideas for using data.

Demonstrate the impact of the library on student success by using assessment results.

We Need Some Data

How Assessment Usually Happens…

Problem or SituationPlace to Study After Hours

Current ProcessesInfo Lit Classes; LibQual

Program Review Strategic Planning

Accreditation

How Assessment Usually Happens…

What if there was a better way?

Organized!

Cycle of Assessment

Compare data across multiple

years

Correlate with Student, Faculty,

Institution Success

The Value of Academic Libraries

We need to demonstrate the impact of library

resources and services.

ACRL Report (2010). http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_report.pdf

Kick A○○ Assessment:In Defense of the Library

About Phoenix College

Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona Headcount at about 12,000; FTSE at about 6,000 60% female, 37% male

Phoenix College: Facts at a Glance. http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=21&subpage=233&quicksec=42641

My Colleagues

Micaela Agyare

Ann Roselle

ILAC (Information Literacy Assessment Committee)

Charge: to develop an ongoing faculty-based assessment plan for measuring student information literacy skills for the purpose of improving the quality of instruction.

Poll: For what topic do you think Phoenix Coll...

iSkills Results

Evaluate The student correctly judges the authority of a list of Web sites. 49%

Evaluate The student correctly judges the bias of a list of Web sites. 49%

Evaluate The student correctly judges if a Web site is up to date. 47%

Evaluate The student correctly judges if the Web site is relevant to the research topic.

10%

Evaluate The student correctly judges the authority of the Web site. 10%

Evaluate The student correctly selects the most useful Web sites for a given research project.

3%

Access The student selects the appropriate database for a given topic. 89%

Access The student selects the appropriate field when using a database. 78%

Access The student retrieves a high percentage of relevant returns in one or two attempts when using a search engine.

8%

Define The student asks appropriate questions to clarify a given topic. 74%

Define The student selects the topic that best fulfills the requirements of the class assignment.

37%

Define The student correctly reports on the aspects of the assignment the topic addresses.

21%

How Did We Do?

165 out of 300 considered passingPC Average Score of 135

What I Learned from Jan Binder

Do you want them to hate you?Choose appropriate assessment instruments

No such thing as a perfect assessment, but keep assessing.

You will always learn something.

Do something with the data.

Jan Binder, Director of Planning, Research & Institutional Effectiveness, Phoenix College

What I Learned from Linda Suskie

“Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide.” (2009)

Look at information literacy at the curriculum level.

Celebrate successes! Repackage results & present to others.

Surveyed Faculty

What I Learned from Jan Binder

Do you want them to hate you?Choose appropriate assessment instruments

No such thing as a perfect assessment, but keep assessing.

You will always learn something.

Do something with the data.

Assess our impact on student skills

Jan Binder, Director of Planning, Research & Institutional Effectiveness, Phoenix College

Reading & Information Literacy Lesson Plans

Assignments by Ann Roselle, Phoenix College Librarian

Putting Assessment Back in the Classroom

Picard, Alan. “Golden Gates in San Francisco California.” 2009. Flickr. Accessed 20 Apr 2010. Available from: http://www.flickr.com/photos/alainpicard/4175214747/

The Value of Academic Libraries

We need to demonstrate the impact of library

resources and services.

ACRL Report (2010). http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_report.pdf

A Few of Megan Oakleaf’s Recommendations

Define Outcomes Record and Increase Library Impact Identify Services Establish Assessment Management Create a Library Assessment Plan

Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries http://meganoakleaf.info/ukvalueoakleaf.pdf

What if there was a better way?

Kelly’s Assessment AdviceWhat do you want to know?

Who can tell you?How will you get the data (best instrument)?

When will you collect?What will you do with the results?

Oakleaf, M. (2010). ACRL Report Summary http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_summary.pdf

Daniel Pink http://www.danpink.com/archives/2009/11/are-you-ready-to-uh-drive

Two Questions That Can Change Your Life

Drive: The Surprising Truth Behind What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink. http://vimeo.com/8480171

Libraries & Librarians…

OUR

Libraries & Librarians…

Are Libraries

References ACRL Value of Academic Libraries 2012. http://www.acrl.ala.org/value/ Information Literacy Assessment Committee at Phoenix College

Assessment Steering Committee http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&sublink=4957&quicksec=5289

Main Page: Outcome Statement http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=7607

Meeting Notes & Annual Reports http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19351

Results & Resources http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19362

Recommendations http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19364

Oakleaf, M. (2011). What's The Value Of An Academic Library? The Development Of The Acrl Value Of Academic Libraries Comprehensive Research Review And Report. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 42(1), 1-13.

Oakleaf, M. (2012) Online Portfolio. http://meganoakleaf.info/ukvalueoakleaf.pdf Pink, Daniel (2012). Drive; The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. http://vimeo.com/8480171 Suskie, L. A. (2009). Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide. Josey-Bass. 2nd Ed.

Poll Everywhere linksWhat does your library assess? http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/NjM1MjM3NDI4/webWhy should libraries assess? http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/MjI1MTkxODI/webStudent scores on iskills: http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/NTIxNjIzNjM0/web

http://kellylambertlibrarian.weebly.com/