Leading a Strategic Assessment Program in a Research Library: An ARL Seminar

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is offering an educational opportunity for academic and research librarians, “Leading a Strategic Assessment Program in a Research Library: An ARL Seminar,” on April 14–15, 2016, in Washington, DC. This two-day, in-person seminar is designed for individuals who are responsible for leading the library’s assessment program and who seek to develop a strategic agenda for assessment.

This is the fifth time ARL has offered the seminar. Registration is limited to 18 people and each previous seminar has reached capacity quickly, so early registration is recommended.The seminar will introduce participants to the practice-based framework of organizational performance assessment in libraries. As a high-level overview of the roles and responsibilities of assessment librarians/coordinators, coverage will include the rationale for library assessment and will provide context for current methodologies, tools, and techniques for library-wide assessment approaches. The seminar will concentrate on making library assessment strategic, diverse, and effective in demonstrating library impact and value, and on the importance of alignment with the university mission and initiatives.

The seminar will be supplemented with extensive pre- and post-workshop independent learning activities; these are an essential component of a successful seminar experience.
Steve Hiller, of the University of Washington Libraries, and Raynna Bowlby, a consultant to ARL, will serve as the seminar’s core faculty with assistance from Sue Baughman of the ARL staff. Additionally, a number of leading library professionals will review some strategic assessment practices in the areas of space, teaching and learning, and library contributions to student success. By the end of the seminar, each participant will have had the opportunity to:

• Discuss the strategic intent and changing focus of library assessment
• Become familiar with the rationale for library assessment activities
• Increase awareness of ways to leverage library assessment methods, tools, and protocols
• Consider effective uses of metrics and evidence for planning, decision making, communicating, engaging, and taking action
• Develop approaches for collaborative and institution-specific library assessment
• Identify strategies for cultivating a culture of assessment that includes the participant’s role and responsibilities in the assessment program and ways to maximize the participant’s effectiveness and value to the organization

Event Details

Dates: Thursday, April 14–Friday, April 15, 2016
Time: 8:30 a.m.–5:00 p.m. Thursday and 8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Friday
Location: ARL Offices, 21 Dupont Circle NW #800, Washington, DC
Fee: $800
Registration: Registration for this workshop is currently full. Please contact angela@arl.org to be added to a wait list.

Contact Information

Angela Pappalardo
Association of Research Libraries
21 Dupont Circle, NW, Suite 800
Washington DC 20036-1543
202-296-2296
angela@arl.org

Cancellations

ARL reserves the right to cancel the event up to (and including) March 13, 2016. An e-mail announcement will be sent to registrants in the event of a cancellation. Registrants will receive a full refund.

Participant Cancellations

Written requests for cancellation will be honored until (and including) March 13, 2016, with a $150 cancellation fee. After that date, no refund will be given. Registration and payment may be transferred to another individual at your institution. If you wish to cancel or transfer, please send an e-mail with your request to Angela Pappalardo, angela@arl.org.