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LibQUAL+® Training Sessions in Dallas

LibQUAL+®Below are PDF versions of the many presentations made at the LibQUAL+® Training Sessions held in Dallas on January 23, 2012. More than 50 people attended the sessions and we look forward to another successful year of surveys. Thank you all for making this one of the strongest library assessment communities.

We hope these presentations are helpful to those who were unable to attend. Please also join us for our upcoming webcast on February 14. Details and registration at http://www.arl.org/news/pr/LibQUALWebcast12jan12.shtml.

You can see presentations and audio files from past training sessions at http://www.libqual.org/publications.

Library Assessment Forum in Dallas

Another packed room in Dallas enjoyed presentations on the Lib-Value project progress and a brief update on the upcoming Library Assessment Conference in Charlottesville, Virginia. Below are PDF versions of each presentation, ready for download:

Proposing an ACRL Assessment Section

If you’re interested in joining an informal discussion about proposing an ACRL Assessment Section, please stop by while you’re in Dallas. Or, if you can’t make it but are interested in contributing, email me.

Saturday, January 21, 2012
12:00pm – 12:45pm

ACRL Assessment Section proposal discussion (Unofficial meeting)
Sheraton Dallas Hotel
Lobby

LibQUAL+® Webcast registration now open

February 14, 1:00-2:00 p.m. EST

Online registration is now open for the 2012 LibQUAL+® Webcast, a free workshop designed to provide potential and current participants with vital information on the LibQUAL+® service. This one-hour webcast will provide practical information for administering a survey, help participants with interpreting the data and its analysis, and share best practices in using the results.

Key members of the LibQUAL+® team, Martha Kyrillidou and David Green, will host the webcast. We are excited to have Sandra Phoenix, Executive Director of the HBCU Library Alliance, join us as our guest presenter to talk to us about the HBCU Library Alliance Strategic Assessment Initiative which is funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation and focuses on using LibQUAL+® to improve library services on HBCU campuses. A Q&A session with attendees will close the event.

Register online for the LibQUAL+® Webcast, to be held on February 14 at 1:00 p.m. EST. There is no fee for attending this webcast and it will be recorded and made freely available on ARL’s YouTube channel.

The LibQUAL+® Webcast kicks off the 2012 ARL Statistics & Assessment Webcast Series. For more information on the other events in the series, please see the earlier post.

ARL Statistics & Assessment 2012 Webcast Series

Online registration is now open for the 2012 ARL Statistics & Assessment Webcast Series, a set of free workshops designed to provide potential and current participants with vital information on the StatsQUAL® tools. Each workshop covers a variety of topics including the strategic aspects of a specific tool, the tool’s development, objectives and goals for its implementation, promoting its purpose, analyzing results, and creating improvement strategies. This series of workshops highlights the impact of these tools in individual libraries as well as the tools’ transformative agency in an environment where libraries are asked to demonstrate their value in new and innovative ways.

Guest speakers and key members of each tool’s support team, led by Martha Kyrillidou (Senior Director of ARL Statistics and Service Quality Programs), will host the webcasts, while providing first-hand context. A Q&A session will close each event.

Register online for one or more of the following:

LibQUAL+® Webcast
Tuesday, February 14
1:00–2:00 p.m. eastern

ClimateQUAL® Webcast
Tuesday, April 17
1:00–2:00 p.m. eastern

ARL Statistics® Webcast
Tuesday, June 5
1:00–2:00 p.m. eastern

MINES for Libraries® Webcast
Tuesday, September 18
1:00–2:00 p.m. eastern

Balanced Scorecard Webcast
Tuesday, December 11
1:00–2:00 p.m. eastern

There is no fee for attending these webcasts and they will be recorded and made freely available on ARL’s YouTube channel shortly after each live event.

For more information, contact:
David Green
Association of Research Libraries
202-296-2296
david@arl.org

ARL Library Assessment Forum

Fairmont Hotel, Continental Room
Dallas, Texas
Friday January 20, 2012
1:30-3:00pm

Please come and discover the measures that describe library value! Join to learn about the latest developments coming out of the Lib-Value project, an IMLS-funded grant that aims to empower the demonstration of value in our academic libraries. Dr. Carol Tenopir, Dr. Bruce Kingma and Ken Wise will present on the status of the project and invite input from attendees.

We also have news to share regarding the upcoming Library Assessment Conference to be held in Charlottesville, VA on Oct 29-31, 2012. Conference Co-Chairs Martha Kyrillidou, Steve Hiller, and Jim Self will provide an update and outline upcoming important dates. A call for proposals (papers and posters) will be made soon.

We hope to see you Friday afternoon in Dallas for a cup of coffee (or tea), good discussion, and good company!

ACRL Assessment Committee

ACRL has recently proposed a new committee structure as part of a broader initiative to support the ACRL Strategic Plan for Excellence. Part of this restructuring includes the disbanding of the ACRL Assessment Committee. From the Proposed Committee Structure Chart (pdf):

Current name: Assessment Committee

Current Charge: The Assessment Committee is responsible for encouraging the use of assessment techniques and the development of a culture of assessment to assure effective academic library programs, services, and collections; and identifying and disseminating relevant assessment resources to the ACRL membership via the ACRL website, ALA Connect, ACRL publications, ACRL professional development programs, and other relevant venues.

Disposition/Transition: Disband at end of June 2012. Specific activities in current committee workplan (i.e., “Develop and Submit a Committee Program for the 2013 ACRL Conference” and “Value of Academic Libraries Toolkit”) will be completed by to Value of Academic Libraries Committee.

You can read more about the proposed changes on the FAQ ACRL has set up. FAQ: http://www.ala.org/ala/mgrps/divs/acrl/aboutacrl/strategicplan/CommitteeFAQ.cfm

Learn more about the ACRL Assessment Committee and the ACRL Value of Academic Libraries Committee.

As the current chair of the ACRL Assessment Committee, and someone who has invested much professional time and effort in its growth, I feel it’s important that the academic and research library assessment community be aware of this proposed change, and have ample opportunity to provide feedback to the ACRL Board. ACRL members are invited to provide feedback via a survey, before December 15th. I strongly encourage you to do so.

ACRL Membership Committee Structure Proposal Survey: http://www.surveymonkey.com/s/DQKKD25

LLAMA MAES Discussion Group at ALA Midwinter 2012

The LLAMA Measurement, Assessment, and Evaluation Section (MAES) Discussion Group will meet Sunday, January 22, 2012 from 4:00-5:30 pm at the Dallas Convention Center, Room A308. Join us in conversation as we explore best practices in creating institutional infrastructure for effective and sustainable measurement, assessment and evaluation of library services. Sarah Murphy, Coordinator of Research and Reference Services at The Ohio State University Libraries, and editor of The Quality Infrastructure: A Programmatic Approach to Measuring, Improving, and Analyzing Library Services (forthcoming from ALA Editions), will get the discussion started with a brief overview of the topic.   Please join us!

The LibQUAL+® Update: Fall 2011

Read the current issue of the LibQUAL+® Update!

Highlights include:

  • Introduction to the new LibQUAL+® Triads and pilot activity
  • The new Membership Subscription for additional analysis tools
  • The current Balanced Scorecard (BSC) cohort of 10 university libraries
  • Spotlight on University of Glasgow
  • Upcoming events

Please contact the LibQUAL+® team at libqual@arl.org with any questions or comments.

Assessment Librarian – University of Chicago Library

The University of Chicago Library is seeking an innovative and collaborative leader for the position of Assessment Librarian to develop, implement, and maintain a successful and sustainable assessment program for the University of Chicago Library.   Core to the University of Chicago Library’s mission is a commitment to “understand the research, teaching, and learning needs of its users,” and the Assessment Librarian is a key figure in helping the Library realize this goal.  The University of Chicago Library is the home of one of the largest and richest research collections, with resources at six library sites on the Hyde Park campus. For information on the Library’s collections and services, please visit the Library’s Web site at: http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/.

The Assessment Librarian plans, designs, develops, facilitates, and/or implements library assessment initiatives under the general direction of the Head of Access Services and Assessment and in consultation with members of the Public Services Steering Committee, the Administrative Committee, and the Library Director.  Working with and chairing the Assessment Project Team, the Assessment Librarian administers usability testing, questionnaires, focus groups, and other assessment tools to measure the effectiveness of the Library in meeting the teaching, learning, and research needs of its users, while promoting the integration of assessment into all phases of planning and services.  As a member of the Library Planning Council, the Assessment Librarian gathers and analyzes data in support of strategic planning.  The Assessment Librarian provides guidance to Library staff wishing to conduct assessments and is responsible for approving assessment activities involving faculty, students, or staff.

Qualifications: A master’s degree in library and information science from an ALA-accredited school; or a master’s degree or Ph.D. in the social sciences, statistics or other relevant discipline with significant experience working with or in research libraries.  Demonstrated knowledge of a wide range of assessment methodologies (both qualitative and quantitative) and experience analyzing data. Experience in conducting assessment projects and in documenting data and providing recommendations for improvements. Ability to present complex information to audiences who possess different levels of library knowledge. Experience in designing surveys, conducting usability testing, and facilitating focus groups highly desired.

Demonstrated ability to participate in complex projects in a team environment, meet deadlines, and to prioritize work in alignment with the service goals of the university and the libraries. Ability to work both independently and as part of a team. Excellent analytical, oral, and written communication skills. Strong service orientation and commitment to user service and support. Demonstrated ability to communicate effectively with patrons, library, and systems staff.  Demonstrated skill in building relationships and coordinating projects with all levels of library staff. Experience in planning and managing projects in a team environment

Salary and Benefits: Appointment salary based on qualifications and experience.  Full range of benefits included in total compensation package, with retirement plan, health insurance, paid time off, and tuition benefit plan for college age and younger children.

Review of applications will begin upon receipt and continue until the position is filled.  Applications received by December 5, 2011 will be assured consideration.

To apply, please visit https://academiccareers.uchicago.edu/applicants/Central?quickFind=51938

For a full description, please visit http://www.lib.uchicago.edu/e/jobs/librarianvacant.html

The University of Chicago is an Affirmative Action/Equal Opportunity Employer.