What, So What, Now What

Abstract

The Mardigian Library contracted with Formative Evaluation Research Associates (FERA) to develop three evaluation instruments the library could use to understand student and faculty perceptions of the library and its resources and services. The three data collection tools employed regularly over time will enable library staff members to collect and analyze information from key client groups to assess library performance and make informed decisions about what needs to be done differently to meet library users' needs.

The three tools designed by FERA with library staff input included a guided observation of students’ searching techniques; faculty and student telephone interviews about research education; and an online survey of students awareness and use of library services. Many of the findings and recommendations have already been implemented whiles others are in process: provide a meta-search engine to simplify searching library resources; market library services in new and varied ways; create online searching tutorials; broaden research education teaching techniques; and redesign the research education classroom.

The research findings have confirmed many things for the library: faculty members are the gateway to the students; students who attend a research education class express satisfaction with the class and use what they learned; and regular application of the three data collection tools will enable library staff members to stay in touch with user needs and expectations, a key to the library’s continued success.