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
Repository Citation
Hall, A.,
Hoffman, S.
(2016).
Using a Tool to Build a Culture of Assessment: The Data Framework.
Library Assessment Conference: Proceedings, 2016
563-567.