CILIP | Focussing on users: action workshops 21 September 2006 and 23 January 2007

Focussing on users: evaluating the impact of libraries and information services on users and potential-users

A pair of action workshops:
21 September 2006 and 23 January 2007

Launch event: King's College London, Thursday 21 September 2006
Libraries and information services are increasingly turning their attention to impact evaluation but most of the monitoring and evaluation processes in place are geared to the 'pre-impact' regime. Libraries have a long history of monitoring the efficiency of services using traditional performance indicators.

Until recently, impact or outcomes evaluation in libraries was largely confined to externally-funded projects where this was a requirement. Really focussed and effective service development depends upon good evidence of the impact of current services on users and potential users.

There are also strong external pressures to evaluate impact. Libraries are now expected to show that they are consulting with users and that their services are making a difference, and user feedback is a core requirement for accreditation in health libraries.

If you are interested in getting to grips with impact evaluation and doing it in your own library or information service, this pair of workshops is for you.

The two events are designed to help participants to focus more effectively on the LIS needs of current and potential users. Participants will be supported in working through a structured programme to find out more about the impact of services on targeted groups of users and potential users.

Programme objectives
The programme is designed to help participants to:
1. prioritise target groups of current or potential LIS users and select one or more groups for attention

2. focus on the needs of the chosen group(s) and the extent to which these needs are being met by relevant LIS services

3. decide what evidence of meeting needs are appropriate for these groups and how this evidence can be collected

4. plan a process of evidence collection to see how well they are performing in relation to the target groups.

5. implement this programme by collecting and interpreting appropriate evidence and devising appropriate ways of reporting for the target groups

6. refine the process in the light of experience (formative evaluation)

The programme
The programme consists of:
* an introductory one-day workshop (launch event) on 21 September 2006 to help you

explore how to get to grips with the impact of your services on users
choose how to evaluate service impact on targeted users/potential users
decide an action plan

* a half-day trouble shooting/progress review event on 23 January 2007 to evaluate progress, address any issues arising and decide how to move forward.

The Facilitators
This pair of workshops will be facilitated by David Streatfield and Sharon Markless of Information Management Associates.

David has great experience of library and information service evaluation and has run courses on research methods for the Library and Information Research Group.

Sharon combines her evaluation work for IMA with her part-time post as a Lecturer in Higher Education at the King's Institute for Learning and Teaching, King's College, London.

Over the past few years they have run a series of development workshops for library service managers in all areas of LIS work, focussed on service impact evaluation. They have also worked together to produce guidance materials on managing change for the People's Network Programme and school library self-evaluation tools for the DfES. Their book Evaluating the impact of your library has recently been published by Facet.

DRAFT LAUNCH EVENT PROGRAMME

9.30 Introduction to the impact process model (plenary) Specifying objectives for the chosen theme (groups) Exploring the potential for collaboration (groups)

11.00 Break Identifying success criteria/impact indicators (groups) Collecting evidence 1 (plenary)

13.00 Lunch

13.45 Collecting evidence 2 (groups) Action planning (groups)

15.15 Break

15.30 Next steps for participants:

16.30 Close of event 1

Since the emphasis in this programme will be on enabling participants to work out viable impact evaluation action plans for their own institutions, this programme will be adjusted as required.

Trouble-shooting/Progress review event:
King's College London, Tuesday 23 January 2007
The programme for the half-day trouble shooting/progress review event will be specifically designed to meet the concerns and priorities of participants who have undertaken impact evaluation work following the launch event.

It is seen as an integral part of the programme. This event is being jointly organised by CILIP's Health Libraries Group (HLG) and Library and Information Research Group (LIRG). Register via the HLG website

The cost of the programme (both workshops) is as follows:
HLG/LIRG members £160 + £28 VAT.
Total to pay £188.00
Non-members £180+ £31.50 VAT.
Total to pay £211.50

Please contact me if you have any queries. Pauline Blagden Service Development Librarian Library,
Education Centre
St Mary's Hospital
Portsmouth PO3 6AD
023 9228 6000 ext 3906
Visit the library website www.portshosp.org.uk/library

Updated: 26 June 2006