In addition to the information presented in the Surveys/Tests and IL Assessment Methods tabs, there are many other qualitative methodologies for assessing library services, resources, and impact. The following is a summary of other popular methods with quick links to more information.
Interviews
- Turner, III, D.W. (2010). Qualitative interview design: A practical guide for novice investigators. The Qualitative Report, 15(3), 754-760.
- Boyce, C. and Neale, P. (May, 2010). Conducting in-depth interviews: A guide for designing and conducting in-depth interviews for evaluation input. Pathfinder International Tool Series: Monitoring and Evaluation -- 2.
Focus Groups
- Glitz, B. (1998). Focus groups for libraries and librarians. NY: Forbes.
Unobtrusive Data Analyses (examples)
- Checkout data
- Library instruction attendance
- Gate Count
- Web page hits
- Electronic resource usage
- "Secret Shoppers"
- Correlating student retention and library use
- Return on Investment (ROI)
Further Reading
- Matthews, J. R. (2007). The evaluation and measurement of library services. Westport, Conn: Libraries Unlimited.