Assessment in Research Libraries: Unlocking the Secrets to Success*

If you’ve ever set foot in a research library, you know that it’s a magical place filled with books, articles, and information galore. But what makes a research library successful? How do they know what their patrons need and how to provide it? The answer lies in assessment. 

Assessment is the process of gathering and analyzing data to inform decision-making. In research libraries, assessment helps us understand how our resources and services are being used, and how we can improve them to better meet the needs of our patrons. 

Take Temple University Libraries, for example. They use assessment to better understand their patrons and to make data-driven decisions that improve their services. Let’s explore some examples of their assessment efforts. 

One of Temple’s most impressive assessment initiatives is their annual user survey. The survey asks patrons to rate their satisfaction with various aspects of the library, such as the collections, the physical space, and the staff. The survey also includes open-ended questions that allow patrons to provide feedback on specific areas of interest. This data is then used to inform decision-making around resource allocation, service improvements, and strategic planning. 

Another example of Temple’s assessment efforts is their analysis of circulation data. By tracking the number of times a book or article is checked out, the library can better understand which resources are most popular and which ones may need to be removed or replaced. This analysis also helps the library identify trends in usage, such as an increase in demand for resources related to a specific subject area. 

In addition to these assessment initiatives, Temple also uses focus groups and usability testing to gather feedback on specific projects or services. For example, they conducted a focus group to gather feedback on their website redesign, and used the feedback to make improvements to the site’s navigation and search features. 

All of these assessment efforts help Temple University Libraries better understand their patrons and improve their services. But assessment isn’t just important for research libraries. It’s also important for anyone who wants to make data-driven decisions. 

Whether you’re a business owner, a student, or just someone who wants to improve their own productivity, assessment can help you understand what’s working and what’s not. By gathering and analyzing data, you can identify areas for improvement and make changes that will help you reach your goals. 

So, next time you’re in a research library, take a moment to appreciate the assessment efforts that go into making it a success. And if you’re looking to improve your own performance, consider using assessment to unlock the secrets to your own success. 

* To the reader: This post was written entirely by ChatGPT 3.5, using the prompt, “write a blog post on the topic of assessment in research libraries for a novice audience in a intriguing style with examples from Temple University Libraries at https://sites.temple.edu/assessment/ “

Consider this: How long did it take you to discern the difference between this AI-produced post and a “human” written one? What were the clues? While this post exercise was “just for fun”, in the future I’d like to explore ways in which AI might support our work in library assessment – identifying themes in survey comments, polishing a post, designing images, or conducting quick literature reviews. It’s both exciting and scary!