Contexts For Assessment And Outcome Evaluation In Librarianship

This themed volume focuses not on the how of undertaking assessment and outcome evaluations, but rather on their successes and failures in various contexts in which these tools have been and will be used.

This themed volume focuses not on the how of undertaking assessment and outcome evaluations, but rather on their successes and failures in various contexts in which these tools have been and will be used.

Emphasizing an inclusive approach to programming that incorporates research-based theories and frameworks, this text will be a valuable orientation tool for LIS students as well as a holistic guide for current children and youth services professionals.

Assessment as Information Practice provides information about a range of collection and service-based assessment approaches that can be applied in different contexts to benefit institutions and the users they serve by enhancing quality, efficiency, and effectiveness. With contributions from practitioners and researchers in Australia, New Zealand, Thailand, and the United States, the chapters discuss practical and theoretical aspects of assessment in collecting institutions. Each chapter focuses on specific assessment approaches or contexts while providing guidance on method and use. The chapters can be read alone or as a series to gain an appreciation of assessment approaches, including assessment-oriented research; storytelling; design thinking; data visualisation; mixed methods assessment for digital resources; data for institutional repository assessment; bibliometric methods; and impact assessment. Assessment as Information Practice serves as a resource for practitioners involved in assessment activities. Detailing the processes and considerations that will contribute to more effective and sustainable assessment programmes, the book is also relevant to faculty, researchers, and students working in the information sector.

The field of librarianship has undergone traumatic shifts (mostly downward) due to the global financial meltdown that began in 2008. This title addresses the ripple effects of the economic recession from the point of view of librarianship, the need for advocacy, and the necessity to tout the value that libraries bring to their communities.

Presents international research and professional issues in libraries, the information industry, education and development of information professionals. This title is suitable for practitioners, researchers, students and faculty members seeking literature and solutions to various issues in library and information science and related fields.

Provides update to current thinking about, and reasons for, service evaluation of libraries in the UK. Examines quantitative and qualitative methods including questionnaires, focus groups, suggestions boxes and interview techniques.Problems arising from survey outcomes are summarised and long-term evaluation and the relevance of benchmarking are discussed.Contains case studies covering survey work in public, academic and special libraries; charters and service level agreements; and examples of relevant research projects.New chapter on performance measurement in the electronic library.

This enlightening book presents a hypothetical evaluation case study to explore and propose tools for effective library program assessment. Although outcome assessment is almost universally expected by accreditation committees, it is difficult for librarians to determine the methods that should be employed for completing such assessments. Case Study Research: A Program Evaluation Guide for Librarians provides guidance for developing an effective program-assessment method using a case-study approach. Built around a hypothetical case and complete with vignettes and examples, the guide explains everything from evaluating a case-study proposal to bounding the case, analyzing the context, planning questions and criteria, and identifying design and data collection methods. It discusses how to establish and maintain appropriate political, ethical, and interpersonal relationships; how to collect, analyze, and interpret quantitative and qualitative data; and finally, how to evaluate and report the case study. In addition, the book guides the reader through the process of using case-study matrices and selecting appropriate qualitative software.