Transcript The Evidence Based Practice Process - EBLIP

The Evidence Based Practice
Process
Andrew Booth
Reader in Evidence Based Information
Practice, University of Sheffield
For the FOLIO EBLIP-Gloss Course
Evidence based library and
information practice is
• “Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
(EBLIP) seeks to improve library and information
services and practice by bringing together the best
available evidence and insights derived from working
experience, moderated by user needs and preferences”.
• “EBLIP involves asking answerable questions, finding,
critically appraising and then utilising research evidence
from relevant disciplines in daily practice. It thus
attempts to integrate user-reported, practitionerobserved and research-derived evidence as an explicit
basis for decision-making”. (Booth, 2006)
The process of evidence-based
library and information practice
Eldredge, 2000
In other words….
…the 5As
– Ask a focused question
– Acquire the evidence
– Appraise the studies
– Apply the findings
– Assess the impact….and your own
development
So let us consider a worked
example…
Based on Abbott WA (2006), Persuasive
Evidence: Improving Customer Service
through Evidence Based Librarianship
Evidence Based Library and Information
Practice, 1:1
A Worked Example
• In Bond University Library (Setting) would the
provision of increased opening hours
(Intervention) to meet student demand
(Perspective) lead to benefits (Evaluation) when
compared with current provision (Comparison)?
• How realistic is twenty-four hour opening?
[Same Setting, Intervention and Comparison but
with Evaluation from Management Perspective].
An Evidence-based approach
• Decision made to use an evidence based
approach - library management decided
that a comprehensive report with
recommendations based on best practice
and other relevant evidence would inform
all stakeholders and help to resolve the
issue.
Identifying the evidence
• Library’s opening hours compared to other Australian
university libraries using Council of Australian University
Librarians (CAUL) annual statistics.
• Survey of twenty-four hour facilities of other Australian
university libraries via questionnaire.
• Review of literature illustrated that internationally,
increasing number of institutions are opening for twentyfour hours for some days of the week and new libraries
are being built to incorporate a twenty-four hour facility.
• Quantitative analysis of feedback about opening hours
received from customers in 2004 indicated low but
persistent level of complaints
• Quantitative analysis of usage patterns gathered in the
Library’s Facilities Use Survey showed current spread of
hours approximated closely to usage
Evidence from research
• Research conducted in
US indicates that
students’ requests for
extended library opening
hours are perennial and
vary from requests to
open until 2.00 am during
exam periods to demands
to open 24-7 most days of
year (Steele and Walters;
Curry; Engel, Womack
and Ellis).
Evidence based decision-making
• Detailed costing prepared for four different scenarios
ranging from longer opening hours for duration of
semester to short period of 24-hour opening leading up
to exam period.
• Evidence appraised and summarised in report
recommending further increase in opening hours in
weeks leading up to exam period.
• Longer term recommendation was to incorporate 24hour study facility when and if Library is refurbished.
• Based on CAUL survey, facility should provide individual
and group study spaces, computers, wireless access,
laptop ports, photocopier and printing equipment,
vending machines, lounges and appropriate security
arrangements.
Acting on the evidence
• Report discussed with Student Council and senior
University executive. Recommendation for long term
accepted but short term proposal not adopted!
• Through process, all stakeholders gained good
understanding of issues and agreed with decision made.
• Refurbishment has progressed
• University has invited proposals from architects to
develop a project brief.
• Evidence gathered to resolve opening hours question
has led to better understanding of Library’s role in
providing learning environment in addition to traditional
role as repository of books/provider of electronic
resources.
• Has helped convince senior executive that refurbishment
necessary to meet student needs.
Moving on to further questions
Refurbishment proposal has defined new
question:
– “What facilities and services would students
like to see included in refurbished library?”
• Stakeholder feedback is being gathered
using online survey and focus groups.
The process of evidence-based
library and information practice
Eldredge, 2000
References
• Abbott WA (2006), Persuasive Evidence: Improving
Customer Service through Evidence Based
Librarianship Evidence Based Library and Information
Practice, 1:1
• Booth A (2006) “Counting what counts: Performance
Measurement and Evidence Based Practice”
Performance Measurement and Metrics, 7 (2), 63-74.
• Booth A and Brice, A, (2004) Evidence Based
Practice for Information Professionals: a handbook.
Facet Publishing.
• Eldredge JD (2000). Evidence-based librarianship: an
overview. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 2000 Oct;88(4):289-302.
• Eldredge JD. Evidence-Based Librarianship: The EBL
Process. Library Hi Tech 2006; 24 (3): 341-54.