Strategic Library Assessment: Aligning with Your University’s Strategic Plan

Slides from a presentation given December 6, 2018 at the Library Assessment Conference in Houston, TX. At a High-Research Activity University, a new Chancellor began a strategic planning process in fall 2016 with a focus on “big ideas” and “giant steps.” Each year, units are required to submit their strategic planning report to the Office of Accreditation and Assessment with objectives, measures and targets. At the end of the year units submit a report to show if these objectives were accomplished. The report includes findings to show if targets were met or not along with an action plan for improvement. For both the planning and annual reports units are asked to link their goals and accomplishments to the University’s strategic plan where appropriate. These reports are ultimately sent to the Chancellor’s Office and a campus-wide report is developed. The UNCG University Libraries linked several of its objectives to support student and knowledge transformation through information literacy, student employment opportunities, learning spaces and open educational resources. Specific metrics provided concrete evidence on goal attainment. The Libraries also took steps to develop specific assessment measures to provide additional evidence of its contributions to the strategic plan. The annual assessment plan includes studies that will support both the Libraries’ and the University’s goals.