Using a Tool to Build a Culture of Assessment: The Data Framework

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

10-31-2016

Publication Title

Library Assessment Conference: Proceedings

Volume

2016

First page number:

563

Last page number:

567

Abstract

Academic libraries capture and report vast quantities of data; thus, keeping track of what needs to be gathered, how, when, and by whom is not a simple endeavor. The University of Nevada, Las Vegas (UNLV) Libraries first developed a data framework over a decade ago to track data points that were required to be collected and reported. Since data use at the libraries has grown exponentially, a major revision and reconfiguration was necessary. The UNLV Libraries approached the revision project systematically, carefully investigating existing and missing data and reporting deadlines and other data collection factors. Creating a data framework model was an essential step in the revision process. This model served as a guide in creating and updating what data is collected (data points and definitions), who provides the data (hierarchy of data providers), how they collect it (step-by-step procedures), how often it is reported, its purpose, and identifying who needs the data (data requesters). This model allowed library faculty and staff to more fully understand the complex process of collecting accurate data. The end result is a data framework that emphasizes the purpose of data points and ensures that data is consistently checked for use and meaning, further growing assessment—not rote data collection—as an institutional value.

Disciplines

Library and Information Science

Language

English


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