Assessment

Introduction


Assessing and evaluating how your library is performing is something that we have often discussed in other classes. For example, in Reference we discuss self-assessment often and even designed assignments which were assessed for effectiveness by our peers. I feel like I know a good deal about assessment, but I still need some help because I'm finding more and more that we are discussing the use of statistics. I've written papers on the use of circulation statistics to evaluate library performance, but when it comes to evaluating the performance of individual staff, I am a little lost. I have been evaluated by bosses before, but never in a library. Because of this I have included an in-depth textbook chapter in this section along with several helpful articles from professional journals.


Textbook Chapter


1. Stueart, Robert D. and Barbara D. Moran. 2007. Library and Information Center Management, 7th ed. Westport, Connecticut: Libraries Unlimited. 409-436. This chapter instructs readers on how they can measure, evaluate, and coordinate organizational performance in the library. It is very detailed and even includes some suggestions for different tools of evaluation. Overall, I think it's overly complicated, but still helpful especially because the authors often list the main points of each section.


Article from Prof Library Literature


1. Ackermann, Eric. "Library assessment on a budget: Using effect size meta-analysis to get the most out the library-related survey data available across campus." Performance Measurement and Metrics 9, no. 3 (2008): 192-201. This article supplies information on constructing practical surveys and scales for evaluating library services and resources at the university level. While I am wary of using surveys to evaluate library performance, Ackermann argues that if surveys are standardized, then they are relative to our assessment needs in the library.

Article from Prof Management Literature


1. Andrade, Maureen Snow. "Managing Change - Engaging Faculty in Assessment Opportunities." Innovative Higher Education 36, (2011): 217-233. This article discusses evaluating teaching in higher education through the assessment of student learning. The author discusses the importance of leadership during these assessments at great length. Andrade also offers practical strategies for administrators that I think I could easily implement in a library.


Examples of Library Policies and Procedures


1. University of North Carolina Wilmington Annual Peer Review Policy and Procedure- It's really hard to find policies and procedures for evaluation in libraries online, but I like this example from UNCW's library because it's about peer reviews. I love peer reviews because they are from the people who you work with everyday. Sometimes they have a better insight on your job performance than others.


Other Resources


1. How to Conduct Employees Performance Appraisals- The Free Management Library has been one of my favorite resources during this project because they use step by step guides which are easy to follow and implement. This section on performance review is practical and can be implemented in any workplace.