September 11, 2019 Meeting of Library Assessment Committee

Time and Location of Meeting

September 11, 20199:00 am - 10:30 am Main Library Room 428

Agenda Details

Expected/Invited Attendees

Jen-chien Yu, Peg Burnette, Megean Osuchowski, Geoffrey Ross, Erin Kerby, Rebecca Smith, Joshua Lynch, Kirsten Feist, Jamie Carlstone, John Laskowski, Taylor Anderson

Agenda

1. Welcome and introduction. Review membership and charge. (10 min.)

  • Jen-chien Yu, Chair (ex officio – Director of Library Assessment)
  • Peg Burnette (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021) Second Consecutive Term
  • Megean Osuchowski (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021) Second Consecutive Term
  • Geoffrey Ross (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021) Second Consecutive Term
  • Erin Kerby (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021)
  • Rebecca Smith (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021)
  • Joshua Lynch (Aug 2019 – Aug 2021)
  • Kirsten Feist (Aug 2018 – Aug 2020)
  • Jamie Carlstone (Aug 2018 – Aug 2020)
  • John Laskowski (ex officio – User Experience and Web Strategy Coordinator)
  • Taylor Anderson, Non-Voting Member(Aug 2019 – Aug 2020) (Library Assessment Graduate Assistant)
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.

Typically, there is a two consecutive term limit.

2. Committee membership (20 min.)

https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/administration/orgchart/divisions/

3. Committee information (20 min.)

4. Brainstorming for 2019-2020 projects (20 min.)

  • Member update worksheet (5 min.)
  • Idea list
    • Library Assessment Forum (spring 2020?)
    • Invite library colleagues to share updates on key projects

5. Member Updates (Round-robin)

Minutes Details

Attendees

Jen-chien Yu, Peg Burnette, Megean Osuchowski, Geoffrey Ross, Rebecca Smith, Joshua Lynch, Kirsten Feist, Jamie Carlstone, John Laskowski, Taylor Anderson

Minutes

1. Welcome and introduction. Review membership and charge. (10 min.)

Review about the history of the committee, it’s evolution and charge. Opening up the possibility of changing the charge. Decision to allow Jen to update some of the language of the charge, and to have it sent to members after EC approval.

Discussion about the term limit language being restrictive, and a desire from members to allow for members to serve for longer than 4 years(2 two year terms) if the member desires and the committee allows. Jen will ask EC about the strictness of term limits.

2. Committee membership (20 min.)

https://www.library.illinois.edu/staff/administration/orgchart/divisions/

Discussion about adding more members. Suggestion to reach out to unit heads about offering positions on the committee to new library faculty as a way for them to fulfill service requirements. Names of new librarians were suggested as possible new hires to speak with. Decided to speak with Special Collections as well if there is a person that they would be willing to allow to serve on the committee. Also decision to email past library assessment forum attendees and ask if they would be interested in joining the committee.

3. Committee information (20 min.)

Discussion:

  1. Update about website
  2. Introduction of factoids and discussion of putting it on the website along with links to the statistical source of the facts.
  3. Talked about sharing assessment often and having it be a part of normal library activities so that people are used to seeing the assessment facts instead of them coming up in a heated discussion (i.d. Weeding at the Yale Library)
  4. Talk about inviting Heather to discuss the external sharing of data.

4. Brainstorming for 2019-2020 projects (20 min.)

  1. Member update worksheet (5 min)
    1. LIS migration, making analytics and reports more accessible.
    2. Illinois DPLA hub, about to launch analytics to report back to grant. Usability assessment next year? User Study and surveys.
    3. Cards in library spaces asking why patrons are in a library space.
    4. Nav structure of website study.
  2. Idea list
    • Library Assessment Forum (spring 2020?)
    • Invite library colleagues to share updates on key projects
    • Ways to proactively involve ourselves as a committee with the new building project.
    • How are undergrads going to use the new library model? How are they using the current library?
    • Assessing how we are staffing service points.
    • Metadata assessment and the usability of assessment tools for metadata.
    • Assessment of staff spaces for the redesign. How many microwaves do we need? Where should we put lactation spaces? Do we need places for staff without office doors to have private conversations?
    • Referral patterns in desk trackers. Focus on how it will impact undergrads.
    • Individual unit assessment methodology sharing. Assessment toolkit for library units for consistent evaluation.
    • Template for unit and individual annual reports?
    • Central location for library data
    • What information is being given to tour guides, and is it accurate? What do the tour guides think of the library?