A Path to More Meaningful Technical Services Assessment

ABSTRACT

In recent years, there have been many initiatives aiming to improve library assessment by making better use of operational data.  While most LIS administrators and stakeholders believe assessment is important, too often many of the quantitative measures traditionally used may satisfy demands from above, come up short in terms of offering direction for meaningful or positive change.This may be especially true when it comes to technical services departments. This article will discuss the need for meaningful assessment in order to support decision-making in technical services, investigate the traditional data collected, and suggest an approach utilizing information from performance appraisals that could lead to a more holistic assessment of library departments.

KEYWORDS:

• Technical services assessment
• assessments
• performance appraisals
• mission alignment
• evaluations

Column Editor: Edward M. Corrado, Associate University Librarian, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA [email protected]Editor’s Note: The “Trending Tech Services” column examines current developments along with emerging and future trends involving technology and its impact on the technical operations of modern libraries and information centers. In this issue’s column, Rachel Jaffe explores how “good” metadata should be evaluated. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at [email protected]. Please include “TSQ submission” in the subject line of the e-mail.

Column Editor: Edward M. Corrado, Associate University Librarian, Naval Postgraduate School, Monterey, CA [email protected]Editor’s Note: The “Trending Tech Services” column examines current developments along with emerging and future trends involving technology and its impact on the technical operations of modern libraries and information centers. In this issue’s column, Rachel Jaffe explores how “good” metadata should be evaluated. Interested authors are invited to submit proposals and articles to the column editor at [email protected]. Please include “TSQ submission” in the subject line of the e-mail.

Notes

1. This bibliography can be found at: https://acrl.libguides.com/slilc/bibliographies

2. See University of Vermont Libraries’ Flickr account for a photograph of the button at https://www.flickr.com/photos/uvmlibraries/5640234379/