*** Apologies for cross posting***
Beyond Performance Indicators in Education Libraries

Monday 24 February 2003

Brenda Moon Room, Wolfson Suite, Edinburgh University Library

Workshop Leader: David Streatfield, Information Management Associates


In an increasingly competitive education world, success in securing support
and resources depends on library managers being able to demonstrate the
impact their service is having. Most approaches to measuring library
performance concentrate on whether and how various processes are working -
or on performance of the system. In education libraries there are equally
important issues about the impact of services and teaching, learning and
research. This is true whether the library is serving a school, college or
university or a more specialised environment such as health or law.


During this workshop the trainer will draw upon research and development
work recently carried out in school, college and health libraries to offer
a practical approach that will enable managers to assess their impact and
achievements. Participants will work through the processes of generating
impact indicators and targets and will consider the 'tricky' issues of
pulling together useful data to assess levels of impact in the complex
world of education, where simple cause and effect relationships usually
cannot be proved.


BY THE END OF THE EVENT PARTICIPANTS WILL HAVE:
* chosen some key areas for enhancing the impact of their library
* distinguished between performance indicators and indicators of impact and
achievement
* developed some realistic indicators of impact and achievement
* looked at issues involved in measuring impact and achievement
* planned how to collect data to assess whether they are making an impact.


The strategy advocated in this workshop should lead to more effective
development planning in education libraries.

PROGRAMME

9:15 Registration and coffee

9:45 Welcome, introductions and aims for the day

10.00
Levels of impact - what can education libraries achieve? - Input and
discussion
Where to focus - Group activity
Choosing indicators: performance or achievement? - Presentation
Developing realistic indicators - Group activity

(Coffee at 11.15am)

12.45 Lunch

1.45
Collecting data 1 - Groups: case studies
Measuring effectiveness: some issues - Presentation and discussion
Collecting data 2 - Group planning

(Tea at 3.00)

4.15 Close

Places: limited to 16

Cost: £100 SALCTG members; £120 non-members

Bookings to Anabel Marsh (address below). Please specify order number (if
required) and any special requirements e.g. diet, access.

*NB Cancellations within one week of the course date will be charged in
full.*


Anabel Marsh
Reader Services Librarian
University of Strathclyde
Jordanhill Campus
76 Southbrae Drive
Glasgow G13 1PP.
Tel. 0141 950 3555.
Fax. 0141 950 3150.