Research Libraries: ARL’s Assessment Program Visioning Task Force Releases Recommendations

From the Association of Research Libraries (ARL):

There is a strong sense from ARL members that the [Assessment Program] should continue to focus on supporting library assessment in member libraries. However, the needs of ARL member libraries and staff have evolved since the program’s inception, and while the program meets some pressing needs of ARL members, there are distinct gaps between the audiences that the ARL assessment program currently serves and those that ARL members most need the program to serve.
As a first step, the Visioning Task Force was charged to consider all current and potential ARL assessment-related services, including the goals, outcomes, deliverables, staff, and other resources related to the existing metrics and tools, and to the surveys in the StatsQUAL suite. The Association asked the task force to write recommendations—presented in a report released today—for investment, maintenance, and disinvestment of programs, services, and tools as well as for new service areas and foci. In devising the recommendations, the task force considered the types of issues ARL libraries will need to address in their measurement and evaluation program in the context of contemporary movements in higher education.
ARL secured Athenaeum21 Consulting to work with the Visioning Task Force to realize its charge by developing the recommendations for consideration and discussion by the ARL membership. The task force’s report presents the recommendations along with an overview of the discussions, research, and review processes undertaken. The report also sets out a fairly detailed structure for a renewed assessment program that the task force believes will better meet the assessment needs of ARL members.

Direct to Complete Intro Blog Post
Direct to Full Text Report
22 pages; PDF.

Filed under: Academic Libraries, Associations and Organizations, Libraries, News, Reports