Evaluate programs and services using measurable criteria A satisfactory statement of competence – Demonstrates understanding of the concept of measurable criteria and their importance Focuses on the evaluation of professional activities and services rather than on content or collections Includes discussion of how evaluation can improve the design or provision of information services and programs
The ability to evaluate programs and services using measurable criteria ensures growth and improvement for libraries. This competency helps improve library services and shows how measurable criteria leads to successful outcomes. In my experience working as an intern with Anchorage Public Library, I filled out a program evaluation at the end of the internship and giving recommendations for future internships. Another example I use to show proficiency is another evaluation from a Gamification course using a specific metric addressing instructional design principles for intrinsic motivation.
Justification of the Evidence
Evidence #1: APL Internship Program Evaluation
I spent 10 weeks in Anchorage, Alaska as a Community Development Intern. This was an internship funded by the State Library of Alaska, and the library director asked me to fill out a lengthy program evaluation based on the evaluation form structure of the National Park Service. The evaluation covers whether or not I have met my initial articulated goal with my supervisor. In the evaluation, I have the opportunity to list out projects and whether or not they have been completed. In addition, I describe professional competencies I have learned during the internship, the work schedule and activities I followed, and an explanation of how this internship has clarified professional goals. This opportunity to complete a program evaluation teaches me as a novice librarian how libraries value feedback on their internships, and how valuable this process is in order to improve programs.
Evidence #2: Video Game Evaluation using Lepper’s Instruction Design Principles for Intrinsic Motivation
In a class on Gamification, I created a series of educational games in the library and also learned how to create rubrics and to also evaluate games. In the exercise, I learn how to evaluate a game using Lepper’s framework based on instructional design metrics. I assess the game using colors to determine strength and choose a color-coded key system to evaluate the level of control, challenge, curiosity, and contextualization it offers to the player. This principle can be applied to a gamified information science topic, which I eventually use in a game I create myself. Using this type of measurable criteria in a game demonstrates my ability to create measurable outcomes using instructional models that I can easily apply to future library programs.
Conclusion
It is important to carry the ability to evaluate the needs of library users by drawing upon measurable criteria and there are many ways to do that. Whether I am evaluating programs for internships(or creating them) or judging the effectiveness of rubrics based on set criteria, I can expand on my repertoire for data collection tools. I plan to take advantage of professional development opportunities offered through CARL(California Academic Research Libraries association) or CCLA(California Conference for Library Instruction) that may hold workshops on evaluation services.