December 13, 2017 Meeting of Library Assessment Committee

Jen-Chien Yu, Jameatris Rimkus, Susan Braxton, Geoffrey Ross, Megean Osuchowski, Becky Smith, Margaret H Burnette, Erin Kerby, Kelsey Cheshire, Jamie Carlstone, Jenny Bruxvoort

1. Review agenda
2. Committee project 2017-2018 update (20 min.)
   • “Question of the Month”
   • Library Assessment Forum & Library Assessment Exhibit
   • Assessing the efficacy of Graduate Assistant training and/or Staff Development workshops
3. Discussion 1: LAC Grant Program (20 min.)
4. Discussion 2: Library Assessment: What would you have done differently? (20 min.)
5. Member Updates (Round-robin)

Library Assessment Committee (LAC) Meeting Agenda

12/13/2017 – 9 am – 10:30 am
Main Library Room 225b

Library Assessment Committee Charge

The Library Assessment Committee advises the Library administration and the Library Assessment Coordinator on the prioritizing, planning and implementation of assessment activities.  Members may assist the Coordinator in identifying assessment opportunities, designing assessment tools, promoting assessment activities, and fostering a culture of assessment within the Library.  The committee shares in accountability for the success of the assessment program and evaluates its effectiveness in supporting the Library’s mission and strategic directions. [http://www.library.illinois.edu/assessment/lac.html]

Agenda

1. Review agenda

1. Committee project 2017-2018 update (20 min.)
   • “Question of the Month”
     1. Assessment Coordinator is going to a meeting with GAs who write question of the week for Library Twitter
   • Library Assessment Forum & Library Assessment Exhibit
     1. Possible idea: Top 10 mistakes in grant applications
     2. Repeat this event because of success
     3. Coordinate with Sweeps Weeks so showing assessment in action (March)
   • Assessing the efficacy of Graduate Assistant training and/or Staff Development workshops
     1. Assess this lightly while Beth’s position is empty (Overall program review for staff development and training, more big picture, not just focused on GA training or any other particular project)
2. Discussion 1: LAC Grant Program (20 min.)
   • Procedural questions for grant approval process
   • Assess grant applications based on rubric and your understanding of the grant
   • Action Item: Add place to decide whether “revise and re-submit” or “quick questions” to the review process
   • Action Item: Add a question about if grant applicant is on a timeline to application (RPC Special Consideration Question as a model)
   • Phone calls or meetings as necessary to discuss grant proposals
   • Action Item: Google Doc for grant proposals for discussion between the committee
   • Action Item: Do you have other funding sources? Add question to Grant Application
   • Action Item: Ask previous grant applicants who did good grant applications if we can use their applications so that committee members see what good applications look like? Bring to next meeting.
   • Action Item: Use poll feature to vote in Outlook for official vote
3. Discussion 2: Library Assessment: What would you have done differently (in creating the assessment position)? (20 min.)
   • Assessment professionals need power to compel action (problem with coordinator positions in general).
   • Assessment happens throughout the library, people should be talking to Assessment Coordinator, but Assessment Coordinator shouldn’t be in every project, Assessment Coordinators should be there to support and provide guidance as needed.
   • Assessment assesses services, not individual people’s performance.
   • Assessment would like to have a real budget (to at least pay for assessment tools (ex: DeskTracker))
4. Member Updates (Round-robin)
   • Goal to extend BIS Best Bets to 30 second videos on how they work (need money for a GA to do that)
   • Assessment Coordinator is on the Counsel for Learning Assessment Outcomes, U of I needs to be re-accredited over 3-5 years. Library needs to make assessment plan for assessing student learning outcomes and the committee is charged with figuring this out.