Each library...periodically evaluates the effectiveness of the library's programs, services and collections to address community needs, as outlined in the library’s long-range plan of service.
Evaluation is the systematic and ongoing assessment of an organization's progress and success in fulfilling its mission, using a variety of qualitative and quantitative measurement techniques. It measures what has already occurred to guide the planning process for the future.
To meet this standard, a library should be able to demonstrate that it queried its community, developed service objectives based on community need, and evaluated the results of those objectives. The library also needs to demonstrate that action was taken to incorporate the results in the library's planning process. It is not enough to set a questionnaire on the circulation desk for the occasional curious library user to pick up. There should be an organized effort to determine community needs, and then to evaluate how well the library is meeting those needs through its collection and services.
In order to meet community needs effectively, ongoing evaluation is necessary. Evaluation provides a concrete measurement of the quality and impact of what the library offers. Some evaluative efforts will be more comprehensive than others, depending on what the library needs to know. Evaluation includes asking current library users how the library is doing, reaching out to the community at large to see what needs are not being met, and exploring why some potential users are not yet involved in the library. Therefore, the data generated can help the library flourish by providing information regarding how to best meet community needs, fulfill the mission, support advocacy efforts, justify budgets/staffing, etc.
Most evaluations focus on one or two areas at a time. Some will be more relevant than others, depending on what the library wishes to learn. Although the area traditionally identified as most important to library users is the library's service offerings, other areas may need to be the focus during any particular evaluation cycle. It is helpful to begin by conducting a community needs assessment and clarifying the library’s goals and objectives (refer to the library’s strategic plan). This process can help determine what questions need to be answered.
Possible categories and areas of evaluation include:
After a library has decided that evaluation is an important part of meeting its mission, goals and objectives, the process of choosing the most effective evaluation tool begins. Refer to Library Research Service and WebJunction courses on assessment, evaluation and planning for helpful information.
Questions a library might ask to facilitate the assessment process include:
There are three categories of evaluation tools:
The findings need to be analyzed and discussed by the full board and recommendations should be made to achieve a higher level of effectiveness. As with other parts of any planning process, the evaluation results should be widely disseminated and used as a chance to gain publicity and generate support for any proposals. The following tools are very useful when distributing information regarding the value of library services:
Responsibilities for board-approved changes should be clearly laid out, timelines set, and tasks completed. Evaluating effectiveness does not end here, as it needs to be an ongoing process.
Consult the library system for further assistance. In addition to staff expertise, there are a number of manuals and other materials which the system can share with the library.