brown apr20-3
TRANSCRIPT
LEVERAGING AND INTERPRETING LIBRARY ASSESSMENT DATA
PULLING THE WHEAT FROM THE CHAFF
Elizabeth BrownDirector of Assessment and Scholarly CommunicationsBinghamton University LibrariesApril 20, 2016
Image Source: Flickr Public Domain
GATHERING AND USING ASSESSMENT DATA
¡ Library assessment data – the basics
¡ Special Projects Data
¡ Local Qualitative Data
¡ Benchmarking Data
¡ Telling a story – some advice
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/16140095136/in/album-72157631115747450/
COLLECTING ASSESSMENT DATA –THE BASICS
¡ Service point activity – reference, instruction, ILL, circulation, institutional repository input, gate counts for buildings, course reserves
¡ Collections – items added, electronic and print format, media and audiovisual items, linear feet manuscripts
¡ Staffing – FTE, salaries and wages, fringe benefits, librarians, paraprofessional, student levels
¡ Infrastructure – preservation, computers and technology, catalog and supporting tools to access collections
ACRL, ARL, AND IPEDS
¡ Major statistical reports requested of U.S. academic libraries
¡ Annual collection periods based on most recent fiscal year data
¡ Varying levels of public data available for non-members
¡ Analysis and comparison tools for benchmarking library services, collections, and staffing support
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/19176634162/in/album-72157631115747450/
ACRL ANNUAL STATISTICS
¡ Annual Worksheet and directions information: https://acrl.countingopinions.com/
¡ ACRL Metrics – analysis tool to compare institutions
¡ General Information: http://www.acrlmetrics.com/
¡ Subscription Information: http://www.acrlmetrics.com/package.php
ARL STATISTICS & SALARY SURVEYS
¡ More information: http://www.arlstatistics.org/about/survey_pp
¡ Annual ARL Statistics Report published in print and as an ebook: http://arlstatistics.org/home
¡ ARL Statistics Analytics available as a subscription: http://arlstatistics.org/analytics
¡ Selected statistics and table data are open access: http://arlstatistics.org/publications
IPEDS ANNUAL LIBRARY STATISTICS
¡ IPEDS = Integrated Post-Secondary Education Data System
¡ NCES = National Center for Education Statistics
¡ Use collected IPEDs data (2013-2014): http://nces.ed.gov/ipeds/Home/UseTheData
Note: academic library data is currently provisional – final data not yet released
¡ Library Statistics Program (2000-2012): https://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/academic.asp
SOME LIMITATIONS
¡ Measurements show volume and activity, some usage
¡ Impact of services and collections not available
¡ Reach of activities and services not clear
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/16679247110/in/album-72157631115747450/
SPECIAL PROJECTS DATA
¡ How are students using computer areas (information commons) in the library?
¡ How can stacks overflow be reduced by analyzing circulation and acquisition patterns by call number?
¡ Large lecture classes – what are they and are we reaching them?
¡ Publication activity of faculty and potential journal hosting opportunities – where are they?
¡ How are collection needs changing with new faculty hires?
LOCAL QUALITATIVE DATA – SOME EXAMPLES
¡ Focus group information from specific users
¡ Secret shopper and other techniques for measuring quality of service
¡ LibQUAL+ and LibQUAL+ lite surveys: https://www.libqual.org/home
¡ Individualized library surveys: Triennial Survey (University of Washington): http://www.lib.washington.edu/assessment/surveys/triennial
¡ Individualized topical surveysImage Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/16251173169/in/album-72157631115747450/
BENCHMARKING DATA SOURCES
¡ Library Journal’s Periodical Price Survey (Annual) : http://lj.libraryjournal.com/2015/04/publishing/whole-lotta-shakin-goin-on-periodicals-price-survey-2015/
¡ Library and Book Trade Almanac (formerly Bowker Annual): http://books.infotoday.com/directories/Library-and-Book-Trade-Almanac.shtml
¡ Institutional and Student ROI for library services (Robert Dugan, University of West Florida): http://libguides.uwf.edu/c.php?g=215171&p=1420704
¡ Annual Library Systems Report (Marshall Breeding): http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/2015/05/01/library-systems-report/
Image Source: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/16200135443/in/album-72157631115747450/
TELLING A STORY WITH DATA – SOME ADVICE
¡ Remember your audience
¡ Match content to knowledge level
¡ Make message succinct
¡ Link analysis to existing data
¡ Show trends clearly – use simple graphs and charts
¡ Make quotes for qualitative data –intersperse with data to emphasize messageImage Source:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/16140094366/in/album-72157631115747450/
THANK YOU!
Elizabeth Brown
607-777-4882
Slideshare: http://www.slideshare.net/ebrown
Thanks to Heather at flickr for images: https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/
Image Source: Flckr, https://www.flickr.com/photos/woolgenie/21001156006/in/album-72157631115747450/