evaluate programs and services using measurable criteria
Programs and services are an integral part of the mission of libraries. In an ideal world, libraries could roll out as many as there is demand for and they would be well-received and well-attended. In reality, the programs and services that are offered by libraries are done so with limited budgets and time constraints which challenge their continuation. This is why programs and services require evaluation—to make sure they are the best they can possibly be. Ideally, the evaluation should occur using measurable criteria, to provide solid footing for any decisions made based on evaluations.
With the many changes brought about by technology, the conception for what the library as place means is in transition. Libraries have increasingly become a place where people gather, rather than just the place where books are stored. The programs and services offered by the library facilitates those gatherings, connecting people with similar interests that may not have otherwise connected. The increased visibility from these brings about greater usage of library resources. These connections to the community make the library an integral part of the community, building a positive perception that can lead to public advocacy for library services in funding crunches.
Evaluation is a necessary process that keeps the programs and services offered the best they can be. Programs and services are initiated with a specific community need in mind, such as financial education or help with searching online resources. The Reference and User Services Association of the ALA lists a series of guidelines for programs that may be adopted by libraries, but libraries should customize programs based on the requirements of their users. From these guidelines, standards for operation can be established, and the goals of the programs can be made clear through documentation. Periodically the results of the programs or services can be compared to these goals. These comparisons can yield a picture of where programs and services are succeeding, and where additional investment is required. Occasionally these evaluations may find existing programs or services that are consistently not fulfilling the goals they set forth, so elimination may be the only feasible solution.
The most effective evaluation of programs and services makes use of measurable criteria. Making qualitative judgments during evaluation is not without merit, but are generally subjective. In addition, it’s less clear what the solution is when some aspect of the program or service has been considered to be short of its goals. Measurable criteria can be as simple as attendance counts or usage statistics, and can also include results of surveys or comprehension tests following instructional sessions. Online programs can be made to give detailed data on user usage, such as time spent per page of a tutorial.
Evidence
LIBR 200: Information and Society—Final Paper
This paper, a culmination of my first class in the MLIS program, addresses the Five Laws of S. R. Ranganathan and their applicability to today’s library. In it I discuss the extended implications of the first law, “Books are For Use,” in today’s library. Mentioning the impact of budget cuts on library programs and services, and the decision to cut library hours as well as some library services illustrates the tension between approaching Ranganathan’s laws and a budget squeeze.
LIBR 200: Information and Society—Final Paper
INFO 281: Learning Design for New Literacies—Focused Literature Review
With the exploration of literacy as a nuanced and multimodal phenomenon, some libraries are adapting their programming with atypical inclusions such as gaming and social media literacy classes. This paper touches on the different implications of the new literacy consideration for libraries and ideas for what might be considered an educational experience in the future.
INFO 281: Learning Design for New Literacies—Focused Literature Review
Conclusion
As caretakers for the resources entrusted to the library, librarians should always be seeking to employ those resources as efficiently as possible. Programs and services like the ones mentioned above are rightfully respected as a valuable contribution of which the library is a part, but should be held accountable to goals set forth before the program begins. Making decisions based on measurable criteria is an important method which allows all stakeholders to see whether these programs are meeting or exceeding their goals, and, if changes or cancellations take place, how they fell short.
Life is information, information is life. 