Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission: Using Assessment to Strengthen the Academic Health S

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Using Assessment to Strengthen the Academic
Health Sciences Librarys Institutional Role

• James Shedlock, A.M.L.S., A.H.I.P., F.M.L.A.
• Director, Galter Health Sciences Library
• Feinberg School of Medicine
• Northwestern University
• MLA 2008 Chicago Nursing-Allied Health
  Resources Section Program

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission

• Presentation Outline
• Context Academic libraries and organizational
  mission
• Assessment techniques
• Benchmarks
• Quality measures
• Ideas and Thoughts
• Conclusion

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• Library role recognized in academe. Library is
  the heart of the university.
• Educational, research, patient care missions
  speak to the need for academic libraries.
• Accrediting standards define need for libraries.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• Liaison Committee on Medical Education
• AAMC AMA
• The medical school must have access to
  well-maintained library and information
  facilities, sufficient in size, breadth of
  holdings, and information technology to support
  its education and other missions.
• The library and information services staff must
  be responsive to the needs of the faculty,
  residents and students of the medical school.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• National League of Nursing Accrediting
  Commission
• Libraries are not specifically mentioned in NLN
  program/school accreditation standards. However,
  these standards include statements about how
  learning outcomes drives the curriculum and the
  resources to support learning. Standards speak
  about the need for appropriate learning
  resources.
• For example, see standard for Doctorate programs
  Standard 5.1 Evidence supports that resources
  are commensurate with the achievement of program
  outcomes
• Sufficiency of physical resources
• Accessibility of learning resources
• Allocation of budget to support program delivery

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• Commission on Nursing Collegiate Education
  (CCNE) Proposed standard II Program Quality
  Institutional Commitment and Resources, Standard
  II-B. Academic support services are sufficient to
  ensure quality and are evaluated on a regular
  basis to meet program and student needs.
• Elaboration Academic support services (e.g.,
  library, technology, distance education support,
  research support, and admission and advising
  services) are adequate for students and faculty
  to meet program requirements and to achieve the
  mission, goals, and expected program outcomes.
  There is a defined process for regular review of
  the adequacy of the programs academic support
  services. Review of academic support services
  occurs and improvements are made as appropriate.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• American Physical Therapy Association, CAPTE,
  Commission on Accreditation in Physical Therapy
  Education Evaluative Criteria for Accreditation
  of Education Programs for the Preparation of
  Physical Therapist Assistants
• SECTION 2 RESOURCES
• Preamble Resources are available in sufficient
  quantity and quality to enable the education
  program to accomplish its objectives and to
  ensure the program's stability and continued
  viability. These resources include students,
  program faculty, staff, student services,
  finances, library, capital equipment, supplies,
  and academic and clinical facilities.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• APTA Standards 2.6. Learning and Instructional
  Resources
• 2.6.1. The resources of the institutional library
  system and related learning resource centers are
  adequate to support the needs and meet the goals
  of the program.
• Evidence of Compliance Narrative
• Describe the library resources, including the
  technological resources, available to the program
  faculty and students.
• Describe the accessibility of library resources
  to program faculty and students.
• If the educational program has its own facility
  for books, periodicals, instructional, and
  audiovisual materials, describe how the facility
  and materials are in an environment that is
  conducive to their intended purpose and
  accessible to students and academic faculty when
  needed.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Context

• Standards are clear library has a role in the
  academic mission.
• While library role within organizational mission
  is secure, this role cannot be taken for granted.
• Smart leadership senses the need for the library
  to show its value, provide accountability, and do
  what it can to connect the library to its
  organization.
• As in life, there are no guarantees that if you
  show value and provide accountability, the
  library will succeed. Environmental forces may
  overwhelm the best of plans and good intentions.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools

• Outcome assessment is growing in importance and
  has value to connect libraries to organizational
  mission.
• Outcomes assessment is difficult to do to
  correlate the work of the library with a specific
  outcome.
• Gold standard show a direct link between
  e-journal access/availability and faculty success
  in winning grant awards.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools Input/Output Data, Benchmarks

• When outcomes are not available, use what is
  available.
• Take available input/output data and create
  benchmarks.
• Use input/output data for peer comparison.
• Change in comparisons over time demonstrates
  library progress (or lack of it).
• Comparisons provide context for conversation on
  library roles, changes necessary to move library
  forward. Data supports the conversations with
  medical school administration, Library Committee,
  users (newsletter articles).

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey

• LibQUAL survey is an ARL-supported tool to
  measure library quality.
• LibQUAL is used to solicit, track, understand,
  and act upon users opinions of service quality.
• LibQUAL helps libraries assess and improve
  library services, change organizational culture,
  and market the library.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey

• LibQUAL survey is based on the
  premise/philosophy that says
• Only users can determine quality.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey

• LibQUAL assesses user perceptions of library
  quality in three areas Information Control,
  Affect of Service, and Library as Place.
• Survey consists of 22 questions, an optional 5
  local questions, and an open comment feature.
• Galter Library has used LibQUAL surveys since
  2001 on an every-other year basis.
• A feature of the LibQUAL results are the radar
  or spider graphs.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey Samples
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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey Samples
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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey Samples
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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Assessment Tools LibQUAL Survey Samples
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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Ideas and Thoughts

• Todays challenge is to connect the dots from
  outcomes and assessment to support institutional
  mission.
• -- use the language of outcomes and assessment in
  relation to institutional mission.
• -- manage the boss (and other institutional
  leaders) meet his/her expectations what
  data/evidence does the boss find persuasive?
• -- use available data/evidence (whatever the
  source anecdotal, stories, interviews,
  testimonials/letters of support).
• -- draw meaning from data/evidence that connects
  to institutional mission tell the story.
• -- honesty is best manipulation is obvious.

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Connecting Libraries to Organizational Mission
Conclusion

• Assessment tools can be powerful, persuasive
  instruments for change and improvement.
• serve staff and management
• Assessment is evidence.
• Evidence supports the librarys changing role and
  its relation to institutional mission.