Library Assessment

Library assessment is the practice of evaluating library services, resources, spaces, and other areas to determine:

• The impact of library services and resources on the university that it supports
• How to improve library performance and better align library services and resources to university needs

Library assessment differs from academic assessment because library impact on student and faculty outcomes often can’t be measured directly. Thus, the Library Assessment unit collaborates with library faculty and staff to design and track meaningful measures of the Libraries' impact on UNLV students and faculty.

Continuous improvement in the Libraries

• We collect data to analyze trends and changes in the use of resources and services.
• We solicit feedback from library users and non-users alike and conduct major surveys of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty.
• We provide a robust assessment infrastructure that supports evidence-based decision making.
• We use this evidence to demonstrate the value of the Libraries to UNLV, the Las Vegas community, and other stakeholders.

A culture of assessment

• UNLV Libraries has a “…highly effective and robust program of assessment data gathering that is used on an ongoing basis to improve resources and services.” -- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 2010 accreditation review
• We follow the 2011 Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Libraries in Higher Education.
• The Libraries' Strategic Plan aligns with UNLV's Top Tier Plan and guides the collection of evidence that demonstrates the Libraries' contribution.

Statistical highlights and major reports

Surveys

• 2016 User Satisfaction Survey: surveyed library users to determine satisfaction with services & resources.

External reports

• ACRL/IPEDS: We report operational statistics and expenditures annually to national groups.
• Libraries' Annual Report: The Dean reports major accomplishments and progress each year.

"The assessment librarian serves as a catalyst for change within the library by delivering evidence and analysis to fuel better decision making."

ACRL Standards for Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians & Coordinators, 2017

Libraries' impact on student success

The Libraries measure impact on student success through a variety of methods described below. Our involvement in student success includes direct library instruction, but encompasses our work with other faculty on instructional design, as well as participation in campus-wide curricular development.

Faculty

• Library faculty hold Faculty Institutes each year to collaborate with instructional faculty on instructional design and assessing student outcomes.

Students

• UNLV Libraries reached 26,929 individuals through instruction sessions in FY20.
• Recent research suggests that UNLV library instruction contributes positively to freshman retention (from fall to fall).
• The library offers a variety of co-curricular activities and events that tie into desired learning outcomes (like multicultural awareness).

Curriculum

Library faculty have played an important role in the development and implementation of the UNLV General Education program. The general education curriculum articulates desired learning outcomes for students throughout their academic career at UNLV. The University Undergraduate Learning Outcomes, or UULOs, include information literacy-related objectives that are closely aligned with skills taught in library instruction sessions.

Contact

Starr Hoffman

Director, Planning & Assessment
702-895-4369
starr.hoffman@unlv.edu
Lied Library 2271C

Xiaoyin Zhang

Libraries Administrative Analyst
702-895-2199
xiaoyin.zhang@unlv.edu
Lied Library 1186

Flo Benincasa

Library Data Analyst
702-895-1964
flo.benincasa@unlv.edu
Lied Library 2271B