Library Assessment Conference Evaluation Metrics for Libraries: Expanding the Conceptual Context Panel Discussion Neal Kaske Joe Matthews Peter Hernon

Library Assessment Conference Types of Metrics Input Output – including economic efficiency Outcome Impact

Library Assessment Conference Typical ViewLibrary Centric Inputs – Example Percentage of total acquisitions expenditure spent on acquisition of electronic library services Outputs – Example Percentage of the population reached by electronic library services Source: EQUINOX, orts/pilist.html orts/pilist.html

Library Assessment Conference Where Does LibQUAL+ Fit in? Service quality Satisfaction Output or Outcome?

Library Assessment Conference Examples of Different Assessment Perspectives LibraryLibrarys Parent Organization Library Customers Accrediting Bodies And so on including government, taxpayers or parents Inputs Outputs Outcomes

Library Assessment Conference Librarys Parent Organization Higher Education Collection and Staff (inputs) Student outcomes (outputs) – Aggregate statistics on groups of students (e.g., graduation rates, retention rates, transfer rates, course and program completion rates, and job placement: employment rates for a graduating class) Student learning outcomes (Development of students over time) What should students learn? How well are they learning it? What evidence do we gather to answer these questions? How do we use that evidence to improve learning Convergence/collaboration (outputs) Other – Affordability

Library Assessment Conference Customers Types – Internal – External External – Present ones low use high use – Never-gained – Lost – No interest

Library Assessment Conference Parent Organization Qualitative indicators – Contributing to retention rate – Successful passage of licensing examinations Getting Your Tuition Moneys Worth from the Library – Sawyer Library, How Can I Get My Tuition Moneys Worth from the Library? (Boston: Suffolk University, 2008), – b/faq.htm#anchor b/faq.htm#anchor13268

Library Assessment Conference Customers Areas to Develop Metrics Use of physical library Remote use Facilities/technology/ equipment Collections Services ILL Circulation Reference Other Staff Wait time Accuracy Courtesy And so on Collections Services Service quality Satisfaction

Library Assessment Conference We Can Then Develop Metrics (ratios with percentage) for Such Areas as Lost customers Shelve books within __ hours of use Wait time at reference desk Amount spent – Café (associated with library) – At vending machines (in library) Facilities used – Frequency of use of Group study room Academic support services available the physical space in the library (e.g., writing tutors and IT support) Seating Computers

Library Assessment Conference Accreditation Bodies Student learning outcomes Student outcomes Affordability Assorted inputs and outputs

Library Assessment Conference Conclusion