Assessment and Continuous Planning: The Key to Transformation at the University of Texas Libraries

Review Essay: The Documentation of Library Assessment Planning Process, Lessons Learned and Suggestions

“…Two academic libraries also saw developing an assessment plan as a way to provide support to library strategic planning (Taylor & Heath, 2012). One library specifically developed its assessment plan as a component of the continuous strategic development process (Tatarka et al, 2010;Taylor & Heath, 2012). This review showed that the academic libraries shared mutual motivations for designing an assessment plan.…”

“…The common purposes included data-driven priority setting and decision making, better organized data collection and reporting, the justification of library value and impact, quality improvement, transparency, and efficiency (Smith et al, 2015;Tatarka et al, 2010;Taylor & Heath, 2012). Two academic libraries also saw developing an assessment plan as a way to provide support to library strategic planning (Taylor & Heath, 2012). One library specifically developed its assessment plan as a component of the continuous strategic development process (Tatarka et al, 2010;Taylor & Heath, 2012).…”

“…As such, the academic libraries included in this review indicated several common purposes for developing outcomes-focused assessment plans. The common purposes included data-driven priority setting and decision making, better organized data collection and reporting, the justification of library value and impact, quality improvement, transparency, and efficiency (Smith et al, 2015;Tatarka et al, 2010;Taylor & Heath, 2012). Two academic libraries also saw developing an assessment plan as a way to provide support to library strategic planning (Taylor & Heath, 2012).…”

“…Reviewing the assessment literature, not necessarily specific to library assessment, was one of the most commonly employed approaches at the start of the planning process (Smith et al, 2015;Tatarka et al, 2010). The libraries also examined existing data sources, such as previously conducted surveys (e. g., LibQUAL+, Climate-QUAL), past meeting agendas, and education and training materials (Tatarka et al, 2010;Taylor & Heath, 2012). Surveying was another commonly used tool while designing an assessment plan.…”

“…Reduced budgets and resources call for evidence of greater accountability and assessment efforts (Taylor & Heath, 2012). An assessment plan is a detailed document that describes assessment efforts and records assessment results (Oakleaf, 2010).…”