Transcript Follow the Yellow Brick Road

The Library Assessment
Journey at Emory
For MLAW Meeting
ALA Midwinter
January 20, 2006
Susan B. Bailey
Library Assessment Coordinator
Emory Libraries

Robert W. Woodruff Library (Main)—also
includes Business Library, Chemistry,
Music/Media Library, MARBL

About 170 staff members: 62 professional staff;
108 support staff
Other Emory libraries: Oxford College, Health, Law,
Theology
Definitions of Assessment

"As commonly used today, the term assessment
can refer to two very different activities: (a) the
mere gathering of information (measurement)
and (b) the utilization of that information for
institutional and individual improvement
(evaluation)." (Assessment for Excellence,
Alexander Astin)
Where We’ve Been



Library reorganization in 2001, introduced the Office
of Program Assessment and Coordination, and
Market Councils
LibQual+ conducted 2001, 2002, 2003, 2005-shared
results and comments; used results to inform the
negotiation of Copy Services contract and in
planning for Candler Library renovation
Usability testing and incorporation of feedback in
Business and General Libraries web redesigns
Current State







University strategic planning process began in March 2004 with
new leadership in place-- emphasized goals, measures, targets
Library Assessment Coordinator position filled September 1,
2005
Planning and assessment are joined in the newly created Office
of Planning and Assessment
Proposal to senior leadership group to create two groups, Library
Assessment Council (LAC) and Assessment Integration Group
(AIG), presented September 1, approved
First LAC meeting on September 14
First AIG meeting on October 31
ARL VPO (Visiting Program Officer) visit December 5 and 6;
received report on January 12
Library Assessment Council


Provides oversight for the library’s assessment
program--program elements are coordinated and
there is a common body of knowledge about the
program’s direction and priorities
Composed of Library Assessment Coordinator,
Director Office of Planning and Assessment, Human
Resources Officer, Director of Office of Finance and
Budget
Assessment Integration Group


Coordinates, promotes, and monitors assessment
efforts in the library, supporting and sustaining a
user-centered environment in which decisions are
based on facts, research and analysis, and where
services are planned and delivered in ways which
maximize positive outcomes and impacts for
customers and stakeholders
Composed of 14 volunteers from throughout the
library
Market Councils

Individual Councils
Area and International Studies
 Business
 Humanities
 Science
 Social Science
 Undergraduate
Coordinating Group-conveners of the individual
Councils, meets monthly


Preparing for their Visit



Supplied the information they requested
Looked for ways to engage staff members from
throughout the organization, especially for the allstaff meeting
Determined the groups for them to meet with, having
an eye to covering as much of the library
organization as possible—they provided several
sample schedules that were very helpful in looking
at ways to arrange the day and a half!
Documents Sent to VPOs






All LibQual+ data from 2003 and 2005
surveys
Market Council summit meeting notes
Organizational Task Force documents
Library’s strategic plan document
Expectations for the visit
Potential follow-up projects
InfoForum


InfoForum sessions are scheduled alternating
Thursdays--sessions at which anyone in the
library can share information with staff on a
project or initiative
Thursday prior to the ARL VPO visit, a
session was held to provide an overview of
the process and to refresh staff members on
the work leading up to the project visit
Follow the Yellow Brick Road
The Journey to
Sustainable Library
Assessment
InfoForum
December 1, 2005
Expectations and Outcomes



I expected “the worst”, knowing that we hadn’t done
as much follow-up on previous assessment efforts
as we could have—They provided much feedback
that was positive and encouraging rather than truly
negative
The amount of work Jim and Steve did prior to the
visit, plus all they shared with us during the visit
gave us many ideas on things to do better and
differently, follow-up items
The follow-up project doesn’t have to be predetermined-- be open during the visit to their ideas
of what best utilizes the process!
Tips for Getting the Most from the MLAW
project



Prepare for the VPO visit! Gather information,
engage staff from throughout the organization
Find out what the VPO’s want from you as soon as
possible, especially if you have to rely on others to
provide the data
Be as specific as possible when you ask people for
the statistical information—at Emory, we still got the
data in a number of different formats
What Would I Have Done Differently?



Designed a format for the statistics
information that enabled me to get the data
formatted for sending more easily
Might have scheduled more than one InfoForum-type all-staff meeting prior to the visit
Would have tried to provide the information to
VPO’s more concisely
Next Steps




Meet with VPOs at ALA Midwinter to work on
the follow-up project
Discuss the report at ESG (Executive
Strategy Group), then discuss in LAC and
AIG
Conduct all-staff information sharing meeting
Use the follow-up project to further the
journey toward sustainable assessment!
Questions?
Contact information:
Susan Bailey
Library Assessment Coordinator
Woodruff Library, Candler 304
[email protected]