Assignment #4: Demonstrating the Value of the Library

Write-up due: Apr. 19
Annual Report Presentation: Apr. 19

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Background. This is the third and last team asignment and builds on the two previous ones. Assume your recommendations for the collection, performance standards, and Intranet design are all accepted enthusiastically just as you proposed them. The library director and staff have been hired; the library is in operation. As you have done such an excellent job on the two previous proposals, the company has confidence in your recommendations. You have now been approached by the library director and asked to provide another consulting report describing how to demonstrate the value of the library.

Please prepare a proposal describing how you will measure the impact of the services and products that the library provides and show how these measurements can be evaluated and, most importantly, used to report the results to management and the other clientele of the library. Your report will be in three parts as follows:

Measuring Impact. Return to the performance standards you developed in Assignment #3 and indicate what data should be collected for each service and product (or most of them), how frequently it should be collected, and tell how the library director can use it to determine the quality and usefulness of the various services and products. Remember to take into account the cost of data collection relative to its value (More costly (or more intrusive) data collection efforts will be recommended less frequently, of course).

Evaluating Results. Consider all the data you propose collecting and describe how the library director will analyze and evaluate it. Discuss methods for an overall evaluation of the contribution the library staff are making to the organization. Relate this contribution to the overall mission and goals of the company.

Disseminating the Results. Outline the kinds of reports (and announcements) the library director will make to his/her supervisor and their frequency. Indicate other public relations uses for this information.

Presenting the Results. For a class presentation (about 7-8 minutes) provide a mock-up of an annual report the library director might make to his/her supervisor. Show the kinds of tables, diagrams, and/or figures that will be included. Indicate where comparisons will be useful -- to last year's performance or to the performance standards or to other benchmarks. Your written proposal should provide details to justify the measures you recommend.

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Email Evelyn Daniel if you have any questions or want to discuss the assignment.