Selection & Evaluation of Information Sources and Services Dr. Dania Bilal IS 530 Fall 2009

Why Evaluate Services? Assess and improve the quality of existing services Assess and improve the quality of existing services Identify the need for new types of services or programs Identify the need for new types of services or programs Justify funding and support Justify funding and support

Why Evaluate Services? Manage human and physical resources more effectively and efficiently Manage human and physical resources more effectively and efficiently Justify the need for maintaining services and need for additional programs Justify the need for maintaining services and need for additional programs

Evaluation Collection available to provide a service Collection available to provide a service In-house reference collection In-house reference collection Print Print Online (local and remote access) Online (local and remote access) Virtual collection Virtual collection Web sources that complement existing collection in a specific area Web sources that complement existing collection in a specific area Issues Issues

Evaluation Measuring the quality of reference service Measuring the quality of reference service In person (mediator’s skills in interacting with user to identify information need) In person (mediator’s skills in interacting with user to identify information need) Digital via chat, Digital via chat, Service provided by professional vs. service provided by volunteers, student assistants Service provided by professional vs. service provided by volunteers, student assistants Accuracy of answers Accuracy of answers Level of assistance given in using sources Level of assistance given in using sources Knowledge of collection Knowledge of collection

Evaluation Meeting user information needs Meeting user information needs Measuring user satisfaction Measuring user satisfaction Methods Methods Formal Formal Informal Informal

Evaluation Guidelines RUSA guidelines for behavioral performance RUSA guidelines for behavioral performance Text, pp Text, pp

Selection of Reference Sources RUSA Reference Committee provides a list of RUSA Reference Committee provides a list of outstanding reference sources Appears annually in May issue of American Libraries Appears annually in May issue of American Libraries Has print sources Has print sources Target small- and medium-sized academic and public libraries Target small- and medium-sized academic and public libraries Knowing your community is a key to selecting appropriate sources Knowing your community is a key to selecting appropriate sources

Selection Aids ARBA (American Reference Books Annual) ARBA (American Reference Books Annual) Guides Guides Guide to Reference Books Guide to Reference Books Walford’s Guide to Reference Materials Walford’s Guide to Reference Materials Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media Centers Recommended Reference Books for Small and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media Centers Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers (Safford, Barbara R.) Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers (Safford, Barbara R.) See Text, pp See Text, pp

Selection of Reference Sources Booklist (Reference Book Bulletin) Booklist (Reference Book Bulletin) Library Journal (print, websites, and databases) Library Journal (print, websites, and databases) School Library Journal School Library Journal Reference & User Services Quarterly Reference & User Services Quarterly Books in Print With Book Reviews Books in Print With Book Reviews Choice (reviews electronic databases in each issue) Choice (reviews electronic databases in each issue)

Evaluation of Print Sources Criteria: Criteria: Purpose Purpose Authority Authority Currency Currency Physical condition Physical condition Format Format Curriculum needs Curriculum needs Target audience Target audience Objectiveness of content Objectiveness of content Online availability Online availability Cost Cost

Evaluation of Electronic Databases Purpose Purpose Design Design User Interface User Interface Search and Retrieval features Search and Retrieval features Record structure Record structure Navigation Navigation Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, etc.) Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, etc.) Ease of use Ease of use Links to external resources (e.g., SFX) Links to external resources (e.g., SFX)

Evaluation of Electronic Databases Authority Authority Coverage (time period) Coverage (time period) Scope (type of publications covered/indexed) Scope (type of publications covered/indexed) Full-text availability of articles Full-text availability of articles Target audience Target audience Curriculum needs Curriculum needs Cost Cost Hardware platform Hardware platform Web interface Web interface Customization Customization