Library Assessment in Higher Education

(Paperback, 2nd edition)

Publishing Details

Classifications

Physical Properties

Description

Written specifically to address the library's role in education, this book provides guidance on performing assessment at academic institutions that will serve to improve teaching effectiveness and prove your library's impact on student learning outcomesand thereby demonstrate your library's value. Academic libraries are increasingly being asked to demonstrate their value as one of many units on campus, but determining the outcomes of an academic library within the context of its collegiate setting is challenging. This book explains and clarifies the practice of assessment in academic institutions, enabling library managers to better understand and explain the impact of the library on student learning outcomes, teaching effectiveness, and research productivity. Providing essential information for all college and university librarians, this volume discusses and summarizes the outcomes of research that has been conducted to investigate assessment within the context of higher education. This updated second edition incorporates additional research, examines new trends, and covers groundbreaking advances in digital assessment tools as well as the changes in the amount and forms of data utilized in the assessment process. The chapters address assessment from a campus setting and present data that demonstrate the value of the library within that setting in terms of learning, research, and overall impact. In sum, the book presents librarians with up-to-date, practical guidelines for planning and conducting assessment.

Reviews

The book provides any academic librarians with up-to-date and practical information that is valuable for planning and implementing library assessment. It should prove appropriate and a must-have for all assessment librarians in an academic setting. The book will absolutely be a valued addition to any academic library collection. Library Assessment in Higher Education will make a significant contribution to the existing literature on assessment of higher institutions and academic libraries. * Performance Measurement and Metrics *
The broad perspective format of the book provides a good way to see many of the issues associated with assessment. It is recommended for academic libraries. * College & Research Libraries *
[The author] aims the book explicitly at library directors and managers, who will find the blend of theory, application, and data more appealing. Librarians who have the responsibility to manage a library's assessment activities will also find value in the specific guidelines and examples of other academic library assessment plans. . . . Some of Matthews's comments are pithy reminders of important aspects of assessment. For those individuals who become mired in the data, Matthews reminds us that "assessment is a process and not a goal" (p. 205). As such, reading Library Assessment in Higher Education is an excellent part of that process. * Technical Services Quarterly *

Author Bio

Joseph R. Matthews is a consultant who has assisted numerous academic, public, and special libraries in a wide variety of projects.