Knowing what library users need and want, how they work, and how they expect the libraries to work is key to keeping resources and services current. Getting your feedback empowers us to make positive change, with initiatives such as:
• Library renovation planning
• Recreational reading collection
• Graphic novel collection
One key avenue for feedback is through library liaisons assigned to each academic unit. Liaisons welcome any suggestions, complaints, or kudos that will help us understand what we can do better. More systematic approaches include:
• User surveys distributed to faculty and students in alternate years (see 2011 faculty survey results in this issue)
• Anthropological research done with students “in the wild” as part of the ERIAL Project
• Designating a Library Assessment Coordinator to pull together and analyze these and other data
Rosemarie Cooper, a longtime member of the library staff, is ideally suited to the role of Library Assessment Coordinator, because of her varied experience across library campuses and departments. Her responsibilities are as simple to summarize as they are complicated to carry out: Demonstrate how the libraries contribute to the academic community. To meet this goal, the Library Assessment Program, newly created as of February 14, 2011, will not only find new ways to analyze existing data about the use of the library (e.g., circulation statistics, door counts, interlibrary loan turnaround time), but also integrate sustainable assessment using new techniques to illuminate the value of ongoing operations and services and demonstrate the effectiveness of new library initiatives in the areas of collections, technology, teaching/learning, scholarship, and community.
Becoming more effective and efficient is something we can do only in communication with you, our users – let us know what you think!