Library assessment is the practice of evaluating library services, resources, spaces, and other areas to determine:

• the impact of library services and resources on the university that it supports, and
• how to improve library performance and better align library services and resources to university needs.

Library assessment differs from academic assessment because library impact on student and faculty outcomes often can’t be measured directly. Thus, the Library Assessment unit collaborates with library faculty and staff to design and track meaningful measures of the Libraries' impact on UNLV students and faculty.

Continuous Improvement in the Libraries

• We collect data to analyze trends and changes in the use of resources and services.
• We solicit feedback from library users and non-users alike and conduct major surveys of undergraduates, graduate students and faculty.
• We provide a robust assessment infrastructure that supports evidence-based decision making.
• We use this evidence to demonstrate the value of the Libraries to UNLV, the Las Vegas community, and other stakeholders.

A Culture of Assessment

• UNLV Libraries has a “...highly effective and robust program of assessment data gathering that is used on an ongoing basis to improve resources and services.” -- Northwest Commission on Colleges and Universities 2010 accreditation review
• We follow the 2011 Association of College and Research Libraries Standards for Libraries in Higher Education.
• The Libraries' Strategic Plan aligns with UNLV's Top Tier Plan and guides the collection of evidence that demonstrates the Libraries' contribution.

Statistical Highlights & Major Reports

*Number of visitors entering Lied Library in FY16 (from ACRL Gate Counts).
†Circulation/use of books, equipment, and other physical items (from Millennium).
‡Number of instruction sessions on library research practices held in FY16 (from ACRL, # of presentations).
**Combined physical and digital collections (from ACRL, Total Physical Collections).

"The assessment librarian serves as a catalyst for change within the library by delivering evidence and analysis to fuel better decision making."

-- ACRL Standards for Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians & Coordinators, 2016

Libraries' Impact on Student Success

The Libraries measure impact on student success through a variety of methods described below. Our involvement in student success includes direct library instruction, but encompasses our work with other faculty on instructional design, as well as participation in campus-wide curricular development.

Curriculum

Library faculty have played an important role in the development and implementation of the UNLV General Education program. The general education curriculum articulates desired learning outcomes for students throughout their academic career at UNLV. The University Undergraduate Learning Outcomes, or UULOs, include information literacy-related objectives that are closely aligned with skills taught in library instruction sessions.

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