LATN Quality Assurance Benchmarking Project Presentation to CAUL April 2006 Gaynor Austen

Project objectives Participants: Curtin, QUT, RMIT, UniSA, UTS, AucklandUT. Researchers: Leanne Levinge (QUT) and Karen Tang (Curtin) Objectives review current practice in quality assurance across ATN libraries; identify best practice and exemplars within ATN libraries; and identify gaps and possible areas for improvement. overall, a collaborative, information-sharing exercise. Quality assurance in the context of this project included broad areas of: quality frameworks and responsibility for QA; planning – strategic and operational; performance monitoring and measurement; client evaluation and assessment mechanisms; and the culture of quality within the library.

Methodology Literature Review covering both national and international resources (little has been documented specifically on this topic, though the local Wilson, Pitman and Trahn, and McKinnon studies were of relevance) Questionnaires participants completed a questionnaire about their quality assurance processes Interviews / site visits questionnaire responses formed the basis of follow-up, in-person interviews with university librarians and ‘quality officers’ Websites / documentation researchers considered the libraries’ relevant documentation and website resources in conjunction with other information collected

Key findings Different libraries have different strengths Examples of best practice amongst LATN group A functional and well-maintained quality framework – QUT Embedding of QA within Library’s culture – AUT/UniSA A special annual event dedicated to planning – UTS / QUT Use of an overall Performance Framework addressing what will be measured, why, when and by whom - Curtin Client involvement in planning – AUT Clear, transparent scoping of planning initiatives, with resource implications - Curtin Use of a subset of strategic performance measures – QUT Prompt report back to clients on satisfaction surveys - RMIT

Key findings Examples of gaps across the ATN libraries Individual work plans which systematically and consistently recognise contribution to library objectives, planning initiatives or achievement of performance targets Effective strategies for managing and reporting ongoing statistics Effective communication of library plans to external stakeholders Measuring impact and outcomes, rather than just inputs and outputs Systematic, targeted comparisons with other libraries, particularly at the international level

Follow up Project website to be developed for supporting documentation, illustrative examples, and ‘good practice’ resources LATN group to consider outcomes in detail LATN group to consider possible collaborations arising from outcomes Individual libraries to identify and action areas for improvement according to their own priorities and needs

Extra benefits Relationship building across ATN libraries Establishment of methodology which could be used across other projects / areas Development opportunities for researchers to increase their evaluation and project skills