In 2013, The Andrew W. Mellon Foundation awarded a group of seven librarians from the Research Library Leadership Fellows program of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) a planning grant to examine the center of excellence (CoE) model for information services. Used in a variety of industries, CoEs are designed to attract the most talented…

This resource was designed to be used by individuals and groups as an ongoing reflection tool. Inclusion is not a one-size-fits-all concept, nor a complete-and-move-on challenge. The checklist and supporting resources are meant to help individual libraries evaluate current services as well as plan for the future. Ultimately, changes and…

With journal price increases continuing to outpace inflation and library collection funds remaining stagnant or shrinking, libraries are seeking innovative ways to control spending while continuing to provide patrons with high-quality content. The Spencer S. Eccles Health Sciences Library reports on the evaluation, implementation, and use of…

Studies about diversity initiatives in academic libraries have primarily focused on large research libraries. But what kinds of diversity work occur at smaller libraries? This study examines the status of diversity initiatives, especially those aimed at students, at national liberal arts college libraries. Results from a survey of library…

The 1972-1975 Neighborhood Information Center (NIC) Project was undertaken in Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, and Queens Borough to demonstrate the feasibility of using existing library branches as neighborhood information centers. This summary evaluation utilized data from site visits, interviews with staff and clients, a questionnaire…

Current trends in public library reference service include use of online systems; budget constraints in public sector; increased service; use, training, and supervision of paraprofessionals; centralized organization of reference service; participation in management of reference services; and more realistic attempts at measurement and evaluation of…

This examination of the philosophy and objectives of academic library reference services provides an overview of the major reference approaches to fulfilling the following primary objectives of reference services: (1) providing accurate answers to patrons' questions and/or helping patrons find sources to pursue their research needs; (2) building…

The 1972-1974 Neighborhood Information Center (NIC) Project was undertaken in Atlanta, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, and Queens Borough to demonstrate that urban public libraries could be a vital force in daily living by providing free information and referrals to low income communities, and by adapting in non-traditional ways to meet neighborhood…

Describes process by which reference service standards were developed at a university medical library and their impact on the evaluation of work of librarians. Highlights include establishment of preliminary criteria, literature review, reference service standards, performance evaluation, peer review, and staff development. Checklist of reference…

Evaluation of library service effectiveness is defined in terms of providing objective information to library policy makers and program managers on the effectiveness and cost of alternatives, as well as existing programs and services. The elements of policy and program evaluation are discussed and the need to view evaluation as a continuous…

Because the types of support services provided by college and university learning resources programs change and evolve as the result of new and emerging technologies, so must the standards by which institutions measure the effectiveness of their support services. This edition builds upon standards described in the first edition and includes an…

Seven articles on library reference services highlight reference obsolescence in academic libraries, major studies of unobtrusive reference tests, methods for evaluating reference desk performance, reference interview evaluation, problems of reference desk control, online searching by end users, and reference collection development in…

Reviews the Senior Library Assistants course at Abubakar Tafawa Balewa University Library (Nigeria). The following six subject areas included in the curriculum are discussed: (1) libraries, information, and society; (2) collection development; (3) organization of library materials; (4) reader's services; (5) preservation; and (6) library…

In September 1981, Carnegie-Mellon University Libraries inaugurated a Question/Comment Board, soliciting from users their suggestions, opinions, and complaints, and prominently displaying the libraries' responses to these queries. This technique has proved to be an effective method for identifying users' perceptions of libraries (i.e., physical…

The effectiveness of the Management Review and Analysis Program (MRAP) of the Association of Research Libraries, an "assisted self study" involving administrators, librarians, and staff in an internal study of management procedures and practices, was evaluated in 1976/77 by research measuring its impact on 22 participating academic and…