Program Evaluation

Program evaluation is a tool that librarians can use to access a program's design, implementation, and impact.

While there are many types of program evaluation, two methods that may be of interest to librarians serving LGBTQIA2S+ teens are participant feedback and self-evaluation.

Participant Feedback

When I think about the LGBTQIA2S+ teens that we serve, patron feedback is a significant form of program evaluation that we should take into consideration. Participant feedback can be used during the design process and to evaluate the program's success and impact. Participant feedback centers teens in the decision making process by giving them the opportunity to have their voice heard about the types of programming they do/do not like, which is an essential practice of cultural humility.

As librarians, we want to center the voices of our teen patrons and find answers to some of the following questions:

Design:

What type of programming would you like to see in the future?
What do you like to do at the library?

Impact:

Is there anything that could make this programming better?
Would you attend a similar program in the future? Why or why not?
What part of the programming did you enjoy the most? The least?
Did the library space make you feel welcome and comfortable?
Would you recommend this program to your friends? Why or why not?

Here are a few examples of teen participant feedback forms/surveys. These surveys/forms can also be made anonymous. Surveys/Forms can be used to get feedback on overall experience, program suggestions, book suggestions, and more.

East Lansing Public Library: Teen Time Survey
James Blackstone Memorial Library: Teen Library Survey
The Public Library of Brookline: Teen & Tween Library Program Survey
Billerica Public Library: Teen Suggestion Form

Self-Evaluation

Self-evaluation is essential and necessary for all librarians to practice in order to continuously improve and adapt programming to meet the needs of their community. Self-evaluation is a method of assessing successes and failures while also allowing for both personal and professional growth.

During the self-evaluation process, we may ask:

Did the program meet community needs?
Did participation and engagement meet expectations?
Did I create and inclusive and welcoming environment? If not, how can I approve?
What did I learn from this experience that can be applied to future programming?
Did the programming help grow relationships with patrons?
Were there any challenges? How were they handled?

Report abuse