Assessing Academic Library Performance

Zaugg pulls together expertise from a variety of contributors for this all-in-one approach to assessment. At first glance this handbook appears to deal solely with library personnel performance reviews, but in fact it also considers the assessment of academic library services, resources, and spaces. Of note are the chapters written by Zaugg, each of which introduces the aforementioned sections and provides a framework for the assessment tools described. Librarians new to assessment responsibilities will find those introductory chapters are an efficient crash course. Case studies and articles written by librarians and other information professionals offer a deeper dive, with real-world findings and evidence-based practices… This volume will be useful for those academic librarians who have assessment responsibilities or are new to assessment in general. * Library Journal *
Assessing collections, services and operations to ensure that the needs and expectation of clients are met and to optimise return on investment is an essential part of all library management. For academic libraries the need for assessment is particularly acute at present because the COVID pandemic has brought about significant changes in teaching and learning experiences for students and for educators. It is unlikely that pre-COVID models of pedagogy or library use will persist unaltered; nor is yet entirely clear how they will evolve. This book offers a timely recapitulation of the challenges and opportunities of an effective assessment process for library decision making and continuous improvement.... Although the book relies on US academic examples, the principles it espouses are easily applicable to other geographical areas and to other sectors. Assessing Academic Library Performance presents a readable and nuanced introduction to library assessment backed up by recent scholarship and a compelling selection of case studies, which would be valuable to any library manager. * JALIA Journal *
Zaugg clearly and thoughtfully tackles the complexity of library assessment with a perfect blend of introductory overviews and considerations for assessing services, resources, spaces, and personnel relationships andthoughtfully curated chapters that illustrate these concepts in action! This practical resource will prove invaluable for anyone interested in library assessment. -- Rebecca A. Croxton, PhD, head of library assessment, University of North Carolina at Charlotte
Zaugg provides an accessible introduction to developing assessment frameworks for all facets of academic library operations and offers flexibility for readers to identify methods that will suit their specific institutional needs. The case studies from various libraries bring assessment to life, serving as useful examples of this work. -- Amanda L. Folk, assistant professor and head, teaching and learning, The Ohio State University Libraries