An overview of assessment practices and policies at the USF Libraries.
Library Assessment Timeline
Remember: Assessment is a process of continual refinement.
Each department/unit in the library should
- Select 1-2 outcomes each year
- Collect all existing data measures relevant to that outcome.
- Analyze the individual data measures to find if they met their targets.
- Pool the assessment findings relevant to the outcome.
- Interpret, analyze, and discuss the assessment findings.
- Create an action plan specifying the actions to be used to address the outcome. Multiple actions per outcome are possible.
Library Assessment Checklist
- Establish outcomes
- For each outcome, establish narrow performance criteria that are measurable statements
- Designate how often each outcome will be analyzed
- Establish assessments
- Establish measurement methods and collect data
- Designate the party responsible for measurement methods or data collection
- Determine an acceptable level of “success” for the data
- Data collection and measurement methods should be part of regular duties
- Conduct evaluations
- Set aside time to compile and analyze the data
- Designate the parties responsible for analyzing the data
- Engage in discussion
- Interpret the data
- Decide who will discuss – a committee or the entire faculty
- Make decisions
- Make decisions regarding the success of the Outcome
- Make modifications to library curriculum or library services, if necessary
- Revise Outcomes or assessment plan, if necessary
- Make no change if that is appropriate
- Do it again!