WELLS COLLEGE
LIBRARY ASSESSMENT PLAN
SEPTEMBER 2008
Wells College Mission Statement
The mission of Wells College is to educate students to think critically, reason wisely, and act humanely as they cultivate meaningful lives. Through Wells’ academic program, residential atmosphere, and community activities, students learn and practice the ideals of the liberal arts. The Wells experience prepares students to appreciate complexity and difference, to embrace new ways of knowing, to be creative, and to respond ethically to the interdependent worlds to which they belong. Committed to excellence in all areas of its reach, Wells College equips students for lifelong learning and for sharing the privileges of education with others.
Library Mission Statement
The Louis Jefferson Long Library supports the mission and the institutional goals of Wells College. The library provides educational and information resources and services to our campus and local communities. Library instruction adheres to the Association of College and Research Libraries’ (ACRL) standards for information literacy which can be found at
http://www.ala.org/ala/acrl/acrlstandards/informationliteracycompetency.cfm#ildef
The ACRL standards complement the Wells College mission of educating students in the ideals of the liberal arts.
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GOAL I: Students will develop skills in how to research based on the standards of information literacy.
A. Objectives
Objective 1: Students will benefit from a proposed Library Information Literacy program.
a. Implementation of the Library Information Literacy program
1) First Year students taking WLLS 101 and WLLS 111 will receive extra academic support by participating in workshops supported by the library’s information literacy program.
2) Students will learn to research in the electronic and print resources by first
determining the type and extent of information they need.
3) Students will access the needed information effectively and efficiently (the redesign of our web pages and the follow-up workshop offerings should be helpful in achieving
this outcome).
4) Students will evaluate critically the results of research and the sources used. They
will also be able to incorporate the selected information. (input from faculty is
encouraged for assessment)
5) Students will then be able to apply the information effectively, thus accomplishing the goal of their research (we will use questionnaires in an attempt to gather this information)
6) Students will understand the ethical and legal issues surrounding the use of the selected information.
7) Students will be able to continue using/applying/integrating information literacy in
their chosen fields leading up to and after graduation.
b. Outcomes
1) Students will appreciate the extent and nature of the library’s resources and services and will avail themselves of them.
2) Students will have greater success writing research papers and doing academic work in general.
3) Students will have a better understanding of the value of the library in a liberal arts education.
c. Assessment
1) Questionnaires will be used before workshops and instruction sessions to determine
the level of student knowledge on the particular subject area.
2) Evaluation forms will be filled out by students after workshops and instruction
sessions to determine what the students learned.
3) Staff will use the reference interview prior to answering reference questions in an
attempt to determine what the student requires and already knows.
4) Faculty will be requested to provide input regarding the library’s impact on a
student’s success.
5) Periodic surveys of students’ experience with library instruction will be undertaken.
Objective 2: Students will receive bibliographic instruction and follow-up support.
a. Professional staff will be available for support
1) Students will have many opportunities to attend workshops dealing with different topics, procedures and skills. Such workshops include ordering interlibrary loans
electronically, avoiding plagiarism, differences among individual/between databases, and
using Boolean Logic in database searching.
2) Students will have opportunities for individual assistance in their research and development of skills.
3) We will provide bibliographic instruction for a particular course as requested by the
professor.
b. Outcomes
1) Students will learn to share ideas and skills.
2) Students will understand the value of human resources.
c. Assessment
1) Questionnaires will be used before workshops and instruction sessions to determine
the level of student knowledge on the particular subject area.
2) Evaluation forms will be filled out by students after workshops and instruction
sessions to determine what the students learned.
3) Staff will use the reference interview prior to answering reference questions in an
attempt to determine what the student requires and already knows.
4) Faculty will be requested to provide input regarding the library’s impact on a
student’s success.
5) Periodic surveys of students’ experience with library instruction will be undertaken.
6) Small focus groups and individual interviews/appointments will be used to assess the progress of the instruction and workshops.
B. Use of Assessment Data:
1. Refine the questionnaires and evaluation forms.
2. Promote the reference interview and its benefits.
3. Give evidence to faculty of the importance of their input.
4. Obtain ideas from students as to what topics interest them.
5. Confirm need for follow-up support.
6. Share methods and ideas with peer institutions.
Priorities:
The implementation of the library information literacy program and the assessment component added to our instruction are the two main priorities for the coming academic year (2008-2009).
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GOAL II: Patrons will experience improved services.
A. Objectives
Objective 1: Patrons will benefit from updated and maintained technology in the library.
a. Library staff and members of the technology department will work
collaboratively to ensure that the technology needs of the library patrons are met.
1) Patrons will have access to software which is ADA compliant.
2) Patrons will find library web pages that are easier to navigate and provide the paper
forms found in the library (Archives, ILL, etc.).
3) Patrons will have a “Research by Subject” link to the library databases.
4) Patrons will benefit from improved indexing in the online catalog due to an upgrade
of Authority Control.
5) Patrons will benefit from collaboration between the technology department and the library on open source initiatives for instruction.
6) Patrons will be able to take advantage of a Reference/Help Desk located in the library for research and technical purposes which will be manned by both technologists and librarians.
7) Patrons will benefit from the library’s future disaster and preservation plans.
8) Patrons will be provided with digitized materials.
9) Patrons will find better control of the printing done in the library.
10) Patrons will be able to use special software such as GIS and Atrix.
11) Patrons will benefit from more machines in the computer lab, particularly for
bibliographic instruction purposes.
12) Patrons will find a library presence on The Globe.
13) Patrons will experience streamlined ways of searching after our library online catalog redesign.
14) Patrons will be able to access more reserves from outside the library building when
electronic reserves (e-reserves) moves out of the pilot phase.
15) Patrons will have improved wireless access while in the library.
16) Patrons will find updated machines in the stacks with which to search the library online catalog.
b. Outcomes
1) Patrons with technological or research questions will receive more immediate and better service.
2) More patrons with special needs will use the library resources.
3) The number and use of machines housing special software will increase.
4) Patrons will be more comfortable and efficient when searching the databases and
library online catalog, and when finding information on the library web pages and The Globe.
5) Patrons will have improved access to our Archives, special collections and rare books.
6) There will be less paper wasted and more convenience for the patron.
7) More patrons will be able to access the internet with their personal or library laptops,
thus making use of more study spaces.
c. Assessment
1) The software for the Help Desk provides a tracking method for assessment.
2) Observational method and statistics gathering will provide numbers for resource usage.
3) Database statistics usage will confirm increase in usage.
4) Inquiries into our digitized collections will provide statistics.
5) Statistical records will continue to be maintained for Archives usage.
Priorities:
The implementation of the Help Desk, digitizing the student theses, a presence on The Globe and reviewing database usage statistics are priorities.
Accomplishments:
1. Patrons have access to wireless connectivity throughout the library. Switches were purchased using Hagedorn Foundation funds but more switches will be needed soon.
2. Patrons now have remote access to our electronic databases.
3. Patrons should experience a faster and better indexed library online catalog due to the upgrade of our library server.
4. Patrons are able to check out laptops for use in the library.
5. Patrons now have access to a pilot electronic reserves (e-reserves) program.
Objective 2: Patrons will benefit from staff and student worker training and professional development.
a. Continuous cross training of students and staff
1) Patrons will benefit from the new collaboration between the Director of Security and the library staff in developing fire and safety policies and procedures.
2) Patrons will continue to receive better service due to the improved training program for library student workers
3) Patrons will receive better service due to our new pilot student supervisor program.
4) Patrons will continue to benefit from the cross-training of the library staff.
5) Patrons will benefit from the professional development of the library staff.
6) New methods for scheduling student and staff hours will be developed in order to move from paper to online calendars.
7) New methods for communicating with student workers will be explored (we hope to
eliminate the paper on a clipboard method and/or the student listserv).
b. Outcomes
1) Services will improve and patron satisfaction will go up.
2) Students will learn to be responsible and gain work experience.
3) Students will develop the skill of supervising peers.
4) Patrons will be more comfortable and secure in using the library.
5) New ideas and implementation plans will be developed and examined by the library staff.
6) Information will be conveyed internally more effectively and efficiently. The
resolution for reoccurring issues will be streamlined.
c. Assessment
1) Surveys and questionnaires will be used to measure satisfaction with services.
2) Staff will be more flexible in providing continued services.
3) Evaluations forms will be used to evaluate workers.
4) Library staff will be compared to library staff of peer institutions in regard to
professional development.
Priorities:
Continue the training of student workers, and cross-training of and professional development for library staff.
Accomplishments:
1. Though the student worker training program, the student supervisor program and the
cross-training of staff have been implemented, they have not yet been completed.
2. Patrons are benefitting from the new reserve policies and procedures.
3. Reference hours have been increased to accommodate patrons while we continue to
accept appointments, drop-ins, emails, or phone calls.
Objective 3: Patrons will experience an atmosphere of community outreach in the library.
a. New staff members and strategies for outreach to all members of the campus community and the community at large
1) Patrons will find an opportunity to share resources with the local high and middle schools. The college and high school librarians are collaborating to exchange library services.
2) Patrons will have digital access to some selected archival materials due to a regional digitization program which is to begin sometime in 2008-2009.
3) Patrons will benefit from an increased promotion of library services.
4) Discussions focusing on collaboration and strategic planning will take place.
5) Patrons with challenges will receive library support due to collaboration with the
Office of the Associate Dean of Academic Advising and the Coordinator of Learning Support Services.
b. Outcomes
1) There will be more collaboration between local schools and the College library.
2) Communication about strategies and planning will be shared.
3) Increase use of the learning support services.
c. Assessment
1) Surveys and questionnaires will be used to evaluate the share resources program between schools and the library.
2) Reports and evaluations of collaborations, communication and strategic plans.
Priorities:
Collaboration with Learning Support Services, and new programs and services offered for collaboration and outreach.
Accomplishments:
1. The student theses will be in electronic and print format allowing for greater sharing of materials.
2. Patrons have access to the Education Curriculum Center, the Writing Center and the Learning Commons which houses the offices of the Associate Dean of Academic Advising and the Coordinator of Learning Support Services.
3. Patrons can also partake of goods from the Commons Café.
4. Patrons will enjoy more exhibits and events in the Library.
B. Use of Assessment Data
1. The Help Desk software will indicate where/how we have to improve our services.
2. The usage statistics will indicate which software is in most demand.
3. Database statistics will inform us as to what databases are required.
4. Inquiries into our collection will inform us as to what collections should be digitized and preserved first.
5. We will use the surveys and questionnaires to determine any needed changes in or
additions to our services.
6. Comparison to peer institutions will help to indicate where we may want to focus.
7. Evaluation of workflow efficiency due to added flexibility will be made.
GOAL III. Patrons will find improved/relevant educational and information resources.
A. Objectives
Objective 1: Patrons will benefit from a maintained and developed collection (electronic, audiovisual and print) that supports the current curriculum.
a. Implementation of a rigorous evaluation of our current collection
1) Patrons will benefit from a comparison study of our reference collection to others
done by the library staff. This will result in an updated reference collection.
2) Patrons will benefit from the library’s new deselecting and collections development
policies.
3) Patrons will benefit from our new inventory process.
4) Patrons will benefit from an increase in subscriptions to electronic journals from print journals done only when deemed appropriate.
5) Patrons will benefit from revised procedures for ordering and responding to requests
for materials.
b. Outcomes
1) There will be a more up-to-date, relevant and diverse reference collection.
2) The inventory will provide statistics with which to evaluate our collection
3) There will be better access to our “subscribed to” journals with means to track usage.
4) An increase in subscriptions to electronic journals will provide better tracking of journal usage.
5) There will be policy and procedures in place to support acquisition decisions for
materials in all formats.
6) Patrons will see maintained stacks and realize that we have relevant materials.
c. Assessment
1) The criteria for deselecting and selecting will be used to justify purchases from the budget (in any format) and increases to the budget.
2) Regular inventory will provide statistics to evaluate loss in our collection
3) Subscriptions to electronic journals will provide more accurate tracking of journal
usage.
4) Data received from policy and procedures will be used to evaluate acquisitions decisions.
Priorities:
Improve our collection by deselecting (based on certain criteria and input from the faculty) and a vigorous and well thought out program of selection grounded in our curriculum and the needs of faculty.
Accomplishments:
1. Patrons are benefiting from the purchased required readings for courses.
2. We have the Bowker Reference tool for comparing reference materials for selection.
3. Patrons will benefit from our rare book collection being moved to a secure and more appropriate room.
4. Members of the library staff met with Ann Rollo and later with Diane
Hutchinson to receive information on gifts and restricted funds.
5. All electronic database information was compiled in one document thus
improving access to administrative information (such as statistics).
Objective 2: Patrons can look forward to improved resources and services which are being planned for the future.
a. Implementation of strategic plans for the future of the library
1) We will have a new collection development policy for the Archives. Faculty,
students and the campus community will also benefit from a reorganization of the
Archives.
2) We are interested in creating an Advisory Board comprised of faculty,
librarians and students (it is recommended that this Board deal not only with collection development but with all library services).
3) We are discussing different options to increase our budget so patrons will benefit from added books, electronic journals, print journals and databases.
4) Patrons will benefit from a proposed subject liaison library program.
5) Students will be able to participate in a proposed library mentoring program for students interested in pursuing graduate study in library science.
6) Students will be able to take a proposed for-credit library course which will cover information literacy for the first year student.
b. Outcomes
1) All materials in the Archives will be evaluated for their relevancy, cataloged and the
method of statistics gathering will be streamlined.
2) Input regarding library collection and services will be received from all areas of the academic community.
3) Evaluation and comparison of our budget to other institutions of comparable size will inform our decision making process when purchasing materials.
4) Library staff will alert faculty of new purchases and resources of use to them and their
students.
5) Students interested in library school will have an opportunity to spend time with librarians and experience the total library environment.
6) Opportunity to design a for-credit library course with information literacy standards being part of the design can provide more exact assessment tools for measuring learning outcomes.
c. Assessment
1) Inventory, content management and statistics for usage will show the value of the Archives.
2) The Advisory Board (comprised of the campus community) will be in a position to evaluate the library collection and its services.
3) Comparison of different library budgets allows for a more comprehensive view of what can be done and how.
4) An individualized subject liaison program will be measured by surveys, evaluation or questionnaire(s) on satisfaction and results.
5) Participation in the mentoring program can be measured by evaluations and
questionnaires and in the long term, by increased participation.
Priorities:
Reorganization of the Archives and the creation of an Archives collection development
policy.
Accomplishments:
1. We invited Barbara Berger-Eden of Cornell University to assess the Archives and Rare Book Room. As a result we purchased data loggers for the Archives and the Rare Book Room and actually moved the rare books to a better environment.
B. Use of Assessment Data:
1. The criteria for deselecting and selecting will be used to justify and support purchases with attention to the budget restrictions.
2. The purchased hand held scanner for inventory will provide statistics to evaluate loss in our collection.
3. An increase in subscriptions to electronic journals will provide better tracking of journal usage.
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GOAL IV. Patrons will experience an improved physical facility which provides increased access to support services and comfortable study areas for collaborative and individual research.
A. Objectives
Objective 1: Patrons will experience an improved and ADA-compliant facility.
a. Patrons will have a facility that is comfortable and conducive to learning
1) Education Curriculum Center (ECC) lighting will be provided.
2) All community members will benefit from improved signage.
3) There will be ADA compliance throughout the library, for example bathrooms, doors,
etc.
4) Remote storage will be investigated.
5) The ventilation system is due for a cleaning.
6) Patrons and collections will benefit from a climate controlled facility (for the library
in general, but particularly for the Archives and Rare Book Room.
7) Improved lighting throughout the facility is needed.
8) We will provide access to drinking water other than in the restrooms.
9) Work stations, hardware and software will be needed eventually for the Learning Commons.
b. Outcomes
1) Being able to use the ECC area in late afternoon or evenings and read the spine labels can be measured.
2) Patrons will be able to navigate throughout the library building without getting lost or
needing to ask for assistance.
3) Library materials will not deteriorate prematurely because of direct light, humidity
and fluctuations in temperature.
4) Additional lighting on the third floor will allow for increased use of the collection and
study spaces and an increased sense of security.
5) The number of items being stored (and in the way) in the mechanical room will decrease.
6) Circulation vents throughout the library will not be clogged with particle pollution
leading to less potential for mold growth.
7) The Learning Commons can develop into a space housing technology.
c. Assessment
1) Questionnaires and surveys of patrons using the facility will be used to determine
what is important to address.
2) Observation of usage by patrons will show “model” areas in the library.
3) Data logger information downloaded to software will help to track fluctuations in
temperature, relative humidity, and light over time and in different areas of the building.
Priorities:
Find a way to light the Education Curriculum Center. Determine locations for the data loggers and install them.
Accomplishments:
1. Patrons have access to the Learning Commons which provides space for collaborative study, houses the Writing and Peer-tutoring Centers and the offices of the Associate Dean of Academic Advising and the Coordinator of Learning Support Services.
2. Patrons have access to wireless connectivity throughout the library
3. Patrons now have easy access to printing from the Printer Room in the library.
4. The ADA-compliant workstation is now located in an area of the Learning Commons.
5. The Education Curriculum Center is now located on the first level of the library.
Lighting remains an issue however. Tom Gunderson is aware of this.
6. Quiet study areas have been designated and there is an increase in the number of study carrels available.
7. We added building signage but they are not sufficient.
Objective 2. The library will have more security for patrons and materials.
a. Patrons will benefit from a more secure facility
1). Patrons will benefit from our improved fire safety and exit plans proposed by the library staff and the Director of Safety.
2) The Wells community will benefit from improved outside security lights and blue
phones.
3) Security alarms on exit doors will provide security for patrons and library materials.
4) There will be less loss for materials being taken from the building if we implemented
a security system.
b. Outcomes
1) There will be fewer materials taken out of the building without being charged out.
(Statistics from our library system should be able to address the “missing” status for books).
2) Patrons and student workers will have better instructions on how, when and why to leave the building in an emergency.
c. Assessment
1) Fire drills will be evaluated by others and verbal feedback provided.
2) Statistics from the library system will help to show loss due to lack of a security
system.
3) Security lights and door alarms will show an improvement in security.
Priorities:
Have regular fire drills.
Accomplishments:
1. The library staff had a meeting with the Director of Security. Among other things, we
requested fire drills.
B. Use of Assessment Data
1. Statistics, evaluations, observations and surveys will all be used to improve the facility.
NB: The assessment of the library facility can be fully done only
insofar as it pertains to the services provided, the access to, preservation
of, and maintenance of the collections, the safety of the patrons and the
staff, and the notification of problems that need to be addressed by other
departments, such as Vice President and Treasurer or Buildings and
Grounds. The library does not have a facilities’ budget to deal with
facility maintenance.
Some Means of Assessing Outcomes
The Louis Jefferson Long Library is a member of the American Library Association (ALA) and Academic College and Research Libraries (ACRL). These professional associations are recognized for their invaluable service to academic libraries. Long Library follows the ACRL standards for information literacy as these standards are applicable to the mission of Wells College and Long Library in regard to student learning outcomes. We also participate in The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) Academic Libraries Survey. This is a survey which is a nation-wide library statistics program. Collections, expenditures, services, and staffing are some of the topics covered by the survey. We realize that acquiring resources and providing access to the resources may be sufficient but information literacy is necessary. We are not looking, therefore, to gather only output data but are looking at the Academic Libraries Survey, the ACRL standards and survey for their sections on information literacy and their guidelines for measuring student learning outcomes.
We are also applying for a grant for the LibQual Survey.
“LibQUAL+(TM) is a suite of services that libraries use to solicit, track, understand, and act upon users’ opinions of service quality. These services are offered to the library community by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). The program’s centerpiece is a rigorously tested Web-based survey bundled with training that helps libraries assess and improve library services, change organizational culture, and market the library. The goals of LibQUAL+(TM) are to:
Taken from http://www.libqual.org/
As an IT and Library unit, we also are considering the Bryn Mawr Survey to assess LIS.
“The MISO Bryn Mawr Survey is a Web-based quantitative survey designed to measure the use and effectiveness for students, faculty, and staff of the services and resources of merged library and computing units.”
Taken from http://connect.educause.edu/Library/Abstract/MeasuringtheSoupTheMISOBr/42272
Additional assessment tools are the standard tools such as questionnaires, satisfaction surveys, observation, usability studies, focus groups, individual reference interviews, and narrative inquiry with analysis of faculty-librarian collaboration. The librarians do not grade per se. The following is an example of how we are using some of the above tools.
Observation
1. After bibliographic instruction we observed that some students who attended the sessions still had many questions. We are addressing this by offering follow-up workshops, short in duration, focusing on specific topics and on individual databases. These workshops will be refined and repeated. Immediately prior to instruction or workshops, we will have patrons fill out a questionnaire which will determine the patron’s level of knowledge about the subject and also have the patron fill out an evaluation after the instruction or workshop.
2. We will have our student workers participate in taking an actual count of patrons using the Learning Commons and the computer lab during certain periods.
Surveys
1. We intend to use SurveyMonkey for brief surveys regarding services and changes in policies, services, resources, etc.
Conclusion
The library staff will do continuous assessment. January and July will allow for biannual assessment meetings. At that time we will evaluate our outcomes by applying the data collected from the tools of assessment. The results of the analyses will help us in management decision making, designing and managing projects, applying information literacy standards and reference interviewing, collection development and in-house development review.