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EVALUATION OF LSTA FIVE-YEAR PLAN

This evaluation report reviews the overall effectiveness of the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) eight grant programs in Texas from 1998 to 2001. Utilizing a three-prong methodology including data analysis, surveys, and case studies, the study finds that library systems offered extensive and effective services, with high satisfaction rates among patrons. Libraries, particularly in rural areas, reported significant improvements in operations and services, benefiting various populations through initiatives like TANG and Special Projects Grants. The report highlights the importance of support infrastructures in enhancing library services.

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EVALUATION OF LSTA FIVE-YEAR PLAN

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  1. EVALUATION OF LSTA FIVE-YEAR PLAN Presented by: Ester Smith, Ph.D. EGS Research & Consulting

  2. Objectives and Methodology • Evaluate overall effectiveness of LSTA eight grant programs (1998-2001) using secondary data • Evaluate in-depth Texas Library Systems, TANG, and Special Projects Grants • Three-prong methodology: (1) analysis of 1998-2001 data; (2) surveys of Library Systems, member libraries, Special Projects grantees and their patrons; (3) case studies

  3. Survey Highlights • Obtained data from 10 Library Systems, 422 member libraries (81.5%), 17 Special Projects Grantees, and 62 participants • The Library Systems developed a comprehensive assistance infrastructure • The Systems are highly responsive to needs of member libraries • The Library Systems provide a wide range of services to member libraries

  4. Survey Highlights (Cont.) • Most common services: collection development (98%), continuing education (97%), training in use of electronic resources (88%), consulting (77%) • More than 2/3 of libraries regard assistance “very helpful” • Libraries expressed a high level of satisfaction with Systems’ services and assistance

  5. Survey Highlights (Cont.) • As a result of assistance and services, libraries saw significant improvements in operations: • Library staff increased management knowledge (85%) • Collections are more current and broad (77%) • Better use of technology and resources (74%) • Offer enhanced access to variety of information (73%)

  6. Urban, Suburban Rural Area of Service • 72% of libraries served primarily rural areas • Libraries serving rural areas were less technologically advanced, did less planning, fewer were members of consortia • Libraries serving rural areas were of greater need of service, considered services more beneficial, more satisfied with services, improved services to a greater extent

  7. Legal Service Population Size • 58% libraries have small legal service populations (10,000), 31% medium (10,000-49,999), 11% large (50,000+) • Legal service population size was significantly associated with libraries’ level of automation; services from Systems (small: Internet connections, training advisory boards, grant writing); perceived helpfulness of Systems; degree of library improvement

  8. Libraries Operating Expenditures • 31% had operating expenditures of less than $50K; 35% - $50K-$150K; 34% - $150K+ • Operating expenditures were significantly associated with level of automation; type of services; perceived helpfulness; degree of improvement • Libraries with small operating expenditures were more dependent on Systems

  9. Technical Assistance Negotiated Grants (TANG) • TANG changed the technology map of Texas libraries • TANG staff provided assistance with security, networking, troubleshooting, servers, operating systems, grants • 86% found TANG services either “very helpful” or “helpful” • TANG increased libraries self-sufficiency

  10. Special Projects Grants • TSLAC awarded 17 grants to 15 libraries • Grants involved: bilingual/ESL programs (9); expansion of non-English collections (7); job assistance (1) • Grants served early childhood, youth, homebound elderly, families, bilingual, low-income, low literacy populations • Participants were highly satisfied with services

  11. Special Projects Grants (Cont.) • Impact of grants: • - Recruited new groups of patrons (88%) • - Increased number of patrons (82%) • - Increased number of pre-schoolers exposed to reading (59%) • - Increased parents’ recognition of reading importance (59%) • - Increased literacy rate in community (47%) • - Increased English proficiency (35%)

  12. Key Conclusions • Systems infrastructure offers a comprehensive set of services and support in all areas of library operations • Libraries considered Systems to be very helpful • Rural libraries, libraries with small legal service populations, libraries with small budgets greatly depend on Systems and have higher appreciation and greater improvement

  13. Key Conclusions (Cont.) • TANG has made a significant difference in libraries’ technological self-sufficiency • Special Projects Grants provided valuable services that had a direct impact on participants, their children and families and subsequently on the community

  14. LSTA Programs • Texas Library Systems • TANG • Special Projects Grants • Library Cooperation Grants • Continuing Education and Consulting • Library Establishment Grants • TexNet Interlibrary Loan Program • Texas State Electronic Library Program

  15. Evaluation Addressed: • Activities performed in 1998-2001 • Evaluate based on allocation of funds, libraries served, impact of program • How well programs promoted access to information resources • Major accomplishments and successful practices • Areas for improvement

  16. Analysis Findings • Each grant program showed a high level of activity as measured by variables such as: materials acquired/provided, number of persons receiving services, number of librarians trained or assisted • Attempted to establish common performance measures across grant programs

  17. Data Limitations and Implications • Mixing of funding sources limits ability to associate outcomes with funding source • Using Targets as a performance measure • Targets as a management tool • Longitudinal performance: random variance from year to year; lack of patterns or continuity

  18. Data Limitations and Implications (Cont.) • No correlation between performance measures and portion of population served (counting events/occurrences) • Program effectiveness = productivity, efficiency, impact • Unclear if libraries use productivity and efficiency measures as management tools

  19. Going Beyond Output Measures • Libraries and Systems generate a great volume of data, but not actionable data • Current output measures limit evaluation: show activity but not much else • LSTA needs to develop impact measures for the different programs • Create a model with standards again which libraries and Systems can evaluate their performance

  20. Going Beyond Output Measures • Use performance data (targets, output, productivity, efficiency, impact) and longitudinal data as operations management and planning tools • Develop performance models using productivity and efficiency data and use these as performance targets

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