Boston University Library
Assessment Plan
FY 2009-2014
Boston
University Library strives to provide the highest quality services and
resources to the Boston
University community. The
Library recognizes the importance of listening to constituents, assessing use
of key resources and services, and providing decision makers with data for planning
and resource allocation. During FY 2008-2009, the Library formed an Assessment
Group to explore how best to undertake library assessment given available
resources. After conducting an environmental scan, implementing Google
Analytics on the Library’s website, participating in the Association of
Research Libraries’ (ARL) Effective, Sustainable, and Practical Assessment
service, conducting a staff survey on data collection, and attending relevant
conferences and workshops, the Library’s Assessment Group proposes this
Assessment Plan to the Library.
With the
support of Library Administration and the involvement of library staff, the
Assessment Group proposes to explore the feasibility of implementing six
initiatives and to carry out the initiatives deemed feasible.
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Constituent Feedback
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Use of E-Resources
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Infrastructure
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Surveys
of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates
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Counter
statistics on use of electronic resources
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Library-wide
Data Collection Survey
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Google
Analytics on use of Library’s website and subscription resources
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Data website
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WorldCat
Local Statistics
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Constituent Feedback
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Project
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Survey of Faculty, Graduate
Students, and Undergraduates
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Purpose
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Gather
information from these groups about library services & resources
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Timetable
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Survey
instruments will be adapted and delivery modes explored during 2009 &
2010. Anticipate surveying one group each year.
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Staff Involvement
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Review
of questionnaires once drafted; publicize survey to encourage participation
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Output
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Results
of survey
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Outcome
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Better
understanding of constituent needs
Staff
will use data to improve services and resource allocation.
If the
survey becomes an ongoing project, it will provide longitudinal data
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Assessment
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Staff
will be asked to assess usefulness of survey results and suggest changes for
future surveys.
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Use of E-Resources
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Project
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Counter Statistics on Use of
Electronic Resources
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Purpose
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To
measure the use of Counter-compliant resources in a consistent manner based
on an international set of standards and protocols
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Timetable
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Investigate
parsing of IT’s MySQL database for EZproxy statistics and commercial products
to collect Counter statistics, 2009+
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Staff Involvement
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After
the exploratory phase, the AG will call a staff meeting to discuss the
project and ask for feedback.
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Output
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Data on
use about a subset of compliant resources
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Outcomes
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Resource
allocation decisions could be made based partially on use statistics.
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Assessment
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Ask for
staff feedback on usefulness of data
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Project
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Google Analytics on Use of
Library’s Website and Resources
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Purpose
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Assess
use of Library’s website and some resources over time
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Timetable
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Begun
in 2008; ongoing
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Staff Involvement
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Assessment
Group will continue to demonstrate the Analytics available to staff and ask
for feedback on its usefulness.
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Output
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Continually
available, up-to-date Analytics
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Outcome
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The
development of the website will be partially determined by this data.
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Assessment
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The Web
Committee will provide feedback to the Assessment Group
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Infrastructure
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Project
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Library-wide Data Collection
Survey
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Purpose
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Streamline
ARL statistics and department and branch annual data collection for the
Library
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Timetable
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2009+
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Staff Involvement
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Staff
will advise AG and identify best practices.
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Output
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Templates
- ARL statistics gathering
Recommended
best practices.
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Outcome
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Branches
and departments will share statistics, know what data is expected, and have a
form for submitting data.
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Assessment
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ALC
will be asked for feedback on this project.
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Project
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Data Website
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Purpose
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Provide
staff and decision makers with a data website. The Assessment Group will
identify the most important data for decision making and populate the site as
statistics become available.
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Timetable
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2010+
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Staff Involvement
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Staff will
be asked to comment on structure and provide content.
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Output
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Growing
collection of organized data.
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Outcome
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Staff
and decision makers will be able to make some decisions based partially on
data and will be able to suggest changes to improve the data layout.
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Assessment
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Staff
will be asked about the usefulness of the site for workflow and decision
making.
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Communication
The
Assessment Group realizes the importance of integrating assessment into
workflow, of involving staff in the process of assessment, and of communicating
with all constituents—library staff, current and potential users, and
librarians involved in assessment in the wider academic community. From the
beginning the Assessment Group has consulted with Administrative Library
Council on developing projects, posted minutes, reports, and relevant materials
on an open wiki, and
coordinated an Assessment Community of Interest through the Boston Library
Consortium (BLC). The Assessment Group will continue to engage with relevant
groups. The Assessment Group will rely on the Usability Group to continue to
conduct usability testing of the Library’s website with students. The
Assessment Group will invite staff from the Law, Theology, and Medical
Libraries to review this Plan and to participate as they see fit.
Perspective and Skill Building
The
Library’s Assessment Group has taken seriously the recommendation in the ARL
consultants’ report to build the necessary research skills to do effective
assessment. One or more members of the Assessment Group have participated in
the following conferences, workshops, and classes. The Assessment Group will continue
to build perspective and skills in the coming years.
ARL’s 2008
Library Assessment Conference “Building Effective, Sustainable, and Practical
Library Assessment”, Seattle,
WA
BLC’s
Assessment Community of Interest, Boston,
MA (co-founded by BU’s AG)
ARL’s
2008 Consulting Service “Effective, Sustainable, and Practical Library
Assessment”
ARL’s 2009
Service Quality
Academy, New Orleans, LA
BU’s 2009
graduate-level course in Quantitative & Qualitative Research
NERCOMP
2009 Workshop “Assessment into Action”, Amherst,
MA
Submitted
to Bob Hudson, University Librarian, by the Assessment Group, August, 2009
Assessment
Group
Dan Benedetti
David Fristrom
Tim Lewontin
Dan Piekarski
Linda Plunket, chair
Sarah Struble
