Introduction and Membership

The Assessment Task Force (ATF) was formed in March 2008 with the charge of developing an assessment plan by December 31, 2008. Members include eight representatives from all departments in Pius Library and one from the Medical Center Library (MCL) with Pat Gregory, Assistant University Librarian for Research and Assessment, chairing. The charge includes writing the plan which is to include an environmental scan of statistics maintained by each department, identifying, supporting, and coordinating assessment priorities, training and support, and decisions on what to do with the results to promote library improvement.

There are two priorities in this assessment plan: tracking the environmental scan in order to make decisions about data collection and identifying assessment goals from each department. During September and October, 2008, Gail Staines, Assistant Provost for University Libraries, and Pat Gregory met with each of the departments and MCL to discuss assessment goals and advocate for a culture of assessment. (“ A Culture of Assessment is an organizational environment in which decisions are based on facts, research and analysis, and where services are planned and delivered in ways that maximize positive outcomes and impacts for customers and stakeholders. A Culture of Assessment exists in organizations where staff care to know what results they produce and how those results relate to customers’ expectations. Organizational mission, values, structure, and systems support behavior that is performance and learning focused.” Amos Lakos, Librarian, Rosenfeld Management Library, UCLA)

The ATF will work closely with the Strategic Planning committee in order to ally assessment efforts with strategic planning initiative. Project leaders are encouraged to contact the ATF regarding assessment projects. The ATF is also committed to building relationships with others on campus and with other libraries to explore and plan assessment.

Membership includes at least one representative from each department/unit:
Pat Gregory, chair, Georgia Baugh, Kevin Connor, Josh Farmer, Jonathan Harms, Joshua Henry, Jenny Lowe, Li Ma, and Conning Manning