Assessment & the
Value of Academic Libraries
Kelly Lambert
AAHH!!! ASSESSMENT!!!
Poll: Why should libraries assess?
Session Objectives
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Identify data sources that can be used to
support the value of academic libraries.
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Discuss nationally recognized information
literacy assessment instruments.
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Share tips for successful assessment
implementation and ideas for using data.
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Demonstrate the impact of the library on
student success by using assessment results.
We Need Some Data
How Assessment Usually Happens…
Problem or Situation
Place to Study After Hours
Current Processes
Info Lit Classes; LibQual
Program Review
Strategic Planning
Accreditation
How Assessment Usually Happens…
What if there was a better way?
Organized!
Cycle of Assessment
Compare data
across multiple years
Correlate with
Student, Faculty,
Institution Success
The Value of Academic Libraries
We need to demonstrate
the impact of library
resources and services.
ACRL Report (2010). http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_report.pdf
Kick A○○ Assessment:
In Defense of the Library
About Phoenix College
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Located in downtown Phoenix, Arizona
Headcount at about 12,000; FTSE at about 6,000
60% female, 37% male
Phoenix College: Facts at a Glance. http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=21&subpage=233&quicksec=42641
My Colleagues
Micaela Agyare
Ann Roselle
ILAC
(Information Literacy Assessment Committee)
Charge: to develop an ongoing faculty-based assessment
plan for measuring student information literacy skills for
the purpose of improving the quality of instruction.
Poll: For what topic do you think Phoenix Coll...
iSkills Results
Access
The student selects the appropriate database for a given topic.
89%
Access
The student selects the appropriate field when using a database.
78%
Access
The student retrieves a high percentage of relevant returns in one or two attempts
when using a search engine.
8%
Define
The student asks appropriate questions to clarify a given topic.
74%
Define
The student selects the topic that best fulfills the requirements of the class assignment.
37%
Define
The student correctly reports on the aspects of the assignment the topic addresses.
21%
Evaluate
The student correctly judges the authority of a list of Web sites.
49%
Evaluate
The student correctly judges the bias of a list of Web sites.
49%
Evaluate
The student correctly judges if a Web site is up to date.
47%
Evaluate
The student correctly judges if the Web site is relevant to the research topic.
10%
Evaluate
The student correctly judges the authority of the Web site.
10%
Evaluate
The student correctly selects the most useful Web sites for a given research project.
3%
How Did We Do?
165 out of 300 considered passing
PC Average Score of 135
What I Learned from Jan Binder
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Do you want them to hate you?
Choose appropriate assessment instruments

No such thing as a perfect assessment,
but keep assessing.
You will always learn something.

Do something with the data.
Jan Binder, Director of Planning, Research & Institutional Effectiveness, Phoenix College
What I Learned from Linda Suskie
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“Assessing Student Learning: A Common
Sense Guide.” (2009)
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Look at information literacy at the
curriculum level.
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Celebrate successes!
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Repackage results & present to others.
Surveyed Faculty
What I Learned from Jan Binder
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Do you want them to hate you?
Choose appropriate assessment instruments

No such thing as a perfect assessment,
but keep assessing.
You will always learn something.

Do something with the data.

Assess our impact on student skills
Jan Binder, Director of Planning, Research & Institutional Effectiveness, Phoenix College
Reading & Information Literacy Lesson Plans
Assignments by Ann Roselle, Phoenix College Librarian
Putting Assessment Back in the Classroom
Picard, Alan. “Golden Gates in San Francisco California.” 2009.
Flickr. Accessed 20 Apr 2010. Available from:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/alainpicard/4175214747/
The Value of Academic Libraries
We need to demonstrate
the impact of library
resources and services.
ACRL Report (2010). http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_report.pdf
A Few of Megan Oakleaf’s Recommendations
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Define Outcomes
Record and Increase Library Impact
Identify Services
Establish Assessment Management
Create a Library Assessment Plan
Demonstrating the Value of Academic Libraries http://meganoakleaf.info/ukvalueoakleaf.pdf
What if there was a better way?
Kelly’s Assessment Advice
What do you want to know?
Who can tell you?
How will you get the data (best instrument)?
When will you collect?
What will you do with the results?
Oakleaf, M. (2010). ACRL Report Summary
http://www.ala.org/acrl/sites/ala.org.acrl/files/content/issues/value/val_summary.pdf
Daniel Pink http://www.danpink.com/archives/2009/11/are-you-ready-to-uh-drive
Two Questions That Can Change Your Life
Drive: The Surprising Truth Behind What Motivates Us by Daniel Pink.
Libraries & Librarians…
Libraries & Librarians…
References
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ACRL Value of Academic Libraries 2012. http://www.acrl.ala.org/value/
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Information Literacy Assessment Committee at Phoenix College
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Assessment Steering Committee
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&sublink=4957&quicksec=5289
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Main Page: Outcome Statement
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=7607
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Meeting Notes & Annual Reports
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19351
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Results & Resources
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19362
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Recommendations
http://www.pc.maricopa.edu/index.php?page=129&subpage=483&quicksec=5289&sublink=4957&subsec=19364
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Oakleaf, M. (2011). What's The Value Of An Academic Library? The Development Of The Acrl Value Of Academic Libraries
Comprehensive Research Review And Report. Australian Academic & Research Libraries, 42(1), 1-13.
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Oakleaf, M. (2012) Online Portfolio. http://meganoakleaf.info/ukvalueoakleaf.pdf
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Pink, Daniel (2012). Drive; The Surprising Truth About What Motivates Us. http://vimeo.com/8480171
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Suskie, L. A. (2009). Assessing Student Learning: A Common Sense Guide. Josey-Bass. 2nd Ed.
Poll Everywhere links
What does your library assess? http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/NjM1MjM3NDI4/web
Why should libraries assess? http://www.polleverywhere.com/free_text_polls/MjI1MTkxODI/web
Student scores on iskills: http://www.polleverywhere.com/multiple_choice_polls/NTIxNjIzNjM0/web
http://kellylambertlibrarian.weebly.com/