The Evaluation of Reference and User Services Committee is planning a discussion forum for Annual 2012: “The How, What, and Why of Reference Evaluation and Assessment”
As the number of reference statistics decline, librarians look to measure the value of reference interactions more qualitatively. The Wisconsin-Ohio Reference Evaluation Program (WOREP, retired at the end of 2011), the READ Scale (Reference Effort Assessment Data), and LibQual are among the tools that have been used. This discussion forum will address the how, why, and what of evaluation and assessment of reference. Participants will discuss how evaluation and assessment are being done and funded; we’ll talk about the why—what’s behind both librarians’ and administrators’ reasons for collecting this information; and finally the what—what is being collected, what is the workload, and what decisions are being made with this data.
Discussion conveners are members of the Evaluation of Reference and User Services committee. Join us for a lively conversation on evaluation and assessment of reference.
Look for us to further publicize when we get a date and a location!
Ellen Keith, Chair 2011-2012