Selection & Selection & Evaluation of Evaluation of Information Information Sources and Sources and

ServicesServicesDr. Dania BilalDr. Dania BilalIS 530IS 530

Fall 2009Fall 2009

Why Evaluate Services?Why Evaluate Services?

Assess and improve the quality of Assess and improve the quality of existing servicesexisting services

Identify the need for new types of Identify the need for new types of services or programsservices or programs

Justify funding and supportJustify funding and support

Why Evaluate Services?Why Evaluate Services?

Manage human and physical Manage human and physical resources more effectively and resources more effectively and efficientlyefficiently

Justify the need for maintaining Justify the need for maintaining services and need for additional services and need for additional programsprograms

EvaluationEvaluation

Collection available to provide a Collection available to provide a serviceservice In-house reference collectionIn-house reference collection

Print Print Online (local and remote access)Online (local and remote access)

Virtual collectionVirtual collection Web sources that complement existing Web sources that complement existing

collection in a specific areacollection in a specific area IssuesIssues

EvaluationEvaluation

Measuring the quality of reference Measuring the quality of reference serviceservice In person (mediator’s skills in interacting In person (mediator’s skills in interacting

with user to identify information need)with user to identify information need) Digital via chat, email Digital via chat, email

Service provided by professional vs. service Service provided by professional vs. service provided by volunteers, student assistants provided by volunteers, student assistants

Accuracy of answersAccuracy of answers Level of assistance given in using sourcesLevel of assistance given in using sources Knowledge of collectionKnowledge of collection

EvaluationEvaluation

Meeting user information needsMeeting user information needs Measuring user satisfactionMeasuring user satisfaction MethodsMethods

FormalFormal InformalInformal

Evaluation GuidelinesEvaluation Guidelines

RUSA guidelines for behavioral RUSA guidelines for behavioral performanceperformance Text, pp. 17-18.Text, pp. 17-18. http://www.ala.org/rusahttp://www.ala.org/rusa

Selection of Reference Selection of Reference SourcesSources

RUSA Reference Committee RUSA Reference Committee provides a list of provides a list of outstanding reference sources

Appears annually in May issue of Appears annually in May issue of American American LibrariesLibraries

Has print sourcesHas print sources Target small- and medium-sized academic Target small- and medium-sized academic

and public librariesand public libraries

Knowing your community is a key to Knowing your community is a key to selecting appropriate sources selecting appropriate sources

Selection Aids Selection Aids ARBA (American Reference Books ARBA (American Reference Books

Annual)Annual) GuidesGuides

Guide to Reference Books Guide to Reference Books Walford’s Guide to Reference MaterialsWalford’s Guide to Reference Materials Recommended Reference Books for Small Recommended Reference Books for Small

and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media CentersCenters

Guide to Reference Materials for School Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers Library Media Centers (Safford, Barbara R.) (Safford, Barbara R.)

See Text, pp. 23-24.See Text, pp. 23-24.

Selection of Reference Selection of Reference SourcesSources

Booklist Booklist ((Reference Book BulletinReference Book Bulletin)) Library Journal Library Journal (print, websites, and (print, websites, and

databases)databases) School Library JournalSchool Library Journal Reference & User Services QuarterlyReference & User Services Quarterly Books in Print With Book ReviewsBooks in Print With Book Reviews Choice Choice (reviews electronic databases (reviews electronic databases

in each issue)in each issue)

Evaluation of Print Evaluation of Print SourcesSources

Criteria:Criteria: PurposePurpose AuthorityAuthority CurrencyCurrency Physical conditionPhysical condition FormatFormat Curriculum needsCurriculum needs Target audienceTarget audience Objectiveness of contentObjectiveness of content Online availabilityOnline availability CostCost

Evaluation of Electronic Evaluation of Electronic DatabasesDatabases

PurposePurpose DesignDesign

User InterfaceUser Interface Search and Retrieval featuresSearch and Retrieval features

Record structureRecord structure Navigation Navigation

Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, etc.)etc.)

Ease of useEase of use Links to external resources (e.g., SFX) Links to external resources (e.g., SFX)

Evaluation of Electronic Evaluation of Electronic DatabasesDatabases

AuthorityAuthority Coverage (time period)Coverage (time period) Scope (type of publications covered/indexed)Scope (type of publications covered/indexed) Full-text availability of articlesFull-text availability of articles Target audienceTarget audience Curriculum needsCurriculum needs CostCost Hardware platformHardware platform Web interface Web interface CustomizationCustomization