LIBRARY STATISTICS:

1. LIBRARY STATISTICS: How to Measure Success Sharon Gullett 903.521.5612 sharon.gullett@gmail.com

2. Copy of Presentation and Handouts http://www.sharon.gullett.net/tla Sharon Gullett 903.521.5612 sharon.gullett@gmail.com Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

3. Yes, but…. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

4. Then…forget these 5 phrases • We’ve always done it that way. • He / she is a roadblock to anything new. • The IT department won’t let us. • I don’t have time for _______. • Our director [principal] doesn’t like... Borrowed and edited from Michael Stevens, TLA 2007 Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

5. Library Statistics: How to Measure Success Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

6. What Can Evaluations Do? • Determine success in attaining program goals. • Determine students’ and teachers’ needs so they can be incorporated into the program. • Provide a basis for resource allocation. • Recognize strengths and accomplishments. • Examine the impact of the program on student learning. Everhart, Nancy. Evaluating the School Library Media Center. 1988. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

7. Evaluation Process • Decide what you want to evaluate. • Decide what data to collect. • Decide how to collect the data • Collect the data. • Analyze the data. • Present the information to specific audiences in various formats. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

8. Formal External Summative Qualitative Informal Internal Formative Quantitative Types of Evaluation Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

9. Essential Question : How do you measure success?

10. Essential Question : How do you prove the library and it’s program is a valuable part of the educational process on your campus?

11. Data Usually Reported Annually • Circulation • Collection (added, lost, weeded) • # of subscriptions (print & non-print) • # of classes visiting library • # of “lessons” taught • # of multimedia checked out Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

12. TSL Output Data Summary 1 Does this show the success of a Library program? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

13. In Texas, what do we most often use as an evaluation instrument? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

14. Library Standards • School Library Programs: Standards and Guidelines for Texas • Adopted in 2005 • http://www.tsl.state.tx.us Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

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18. Conundrum Truth or a Version of the Truth? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

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20. Scorecard for Libraries Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

21. TSL Output Data Summary 2 Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

22. TSL Output Data Summary 3 Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

23. Administrative Tools • Titlewise or Mackin Collection Analysis • AR/RC Statistics • Excel • Output Measures in the Supplement Resources of Texas Library Standards and Guidelines Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

24. And then-- • Use the results to make informed decisions. • What success story would you like to report in the next one to two years? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

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30. Grant, Jim. If You’re Riding a Horse and It Dies, Get Off . Peterborough, NH: Crystal Spring Books, 1999. • ISBN: 1-88458-25-3 • Available from Amazon - $6.95 Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

31. In My Opinion… • Traditional library statistics don’t present the whole picture Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

32. 4 Additional Types of Data • Demographics • Student Learning • School Processes • Perceptions Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

33. Enrollment Attendance Drop-Out Rate Ethnicity At-Risk Class size Gender Economic Level Grade Level Urban/Suburban/Rural Demographics Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

34. Student Learning • How is learning measured: • Standardized Tests (TAKS, SAT, ACT) • Benchmarks • Authentic Assessments (Projects, Portfolios) SBISD Coorelations Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

35. School Processes • Instructional strategies • Instructional time • Student-teacher ratio • Assessment • Personal relationships The only measure librarians actually have control over in the educational setting. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

36. Perceptions • Questionnaires • Interviews • Focus Groups • Surveys Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

37. The Survey Says… • 8 out of 10 - library has positive role in overall value of school BUT • 47% - direct link between library and student achievement • 41% - positive impact on students’ standardized test scores Lau, D., What Does Your Boss Think About You? School Library Journal, Sept, 2002. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

38. 16 State Studies 1999-2006 • All demonstrated the benefits of school libraries and librarians on student academic achievement. • “We don’t need any more studies to prove that point.” – Keith Curry Lance, TLA, 2004, “Strong Libraries, Strong Scores”, Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

39. So What’s the Problem? Perception Too many people base their opinion of a library on a 18-second walk through or hearsay. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

40. What’s the public’s perception of the library? • Can you influence perception with statistics / evaluation? 3 things Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

41. Quantitative Best practices Number of lessons planned with teachers Books bought within budget Qualitative Best stories Collaboration success stories Displays of books bought within budget Types of Data Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

42. Quantitatve Practices # of periodical searches Size of collection Qualitative – Stories Student comments about success in locating appropriate resources Collection that supports the curriculum Types of Data Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

43. Essential Question : What image does the library project?

44. Scenario • A new superintendent or principal is hired for your district and appears to be very supportive of libraries. • He/she asks you to describe the library program. • What would you say? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

45. Tell a Neighbor… • What does your “community/patrons” know you do? • Name something important you do for “community/patrons” that no one knows you do. Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

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47. Mixed Message?

48. Scout’s Motto: Be prepared • What can you do to prepare a better elevator speech? • What are the Library program’s strengths? • Instruction? • Management? • Inventory? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

49. Scenario 2 • A school board member was just elected and appears to be very supportive of libraries. • He/she asks you to describe the library program. • Now what would you say? Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007

50. Chugga, chugga. Sis Boom Bah! You’ll love the Library Rah! Rah! Rah! Sharon Gullett, TLA 2007