Research Links: List of Databases, Course Reserves

Quick Search: Articles, newspapers, books and ebooks, videos and more. Results primarily available online but may also include books available in the library or articles that can be requested for email delivery from ILLiad.
Books: Print and online books available from UNLV Libraries or by ILLiad request.
 Articles: Articles from academic journals, magazines and newspapers.

Library Information: Pages on library web site, for example research guides, library policies and procedures, hours and events.

Library Assessment

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.
 2017 Faculty Institute
2016 Libraries Open House

A Culture of Assessment

Statistical Highlights & Major Reports

Visitors*

Checkouts†

Instruction‡

Collections**
5,210,270 250,368 840 1,127,076

*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).

Surveys

  • 2015 Ithaka S+R Survey: conducted separate surveys of faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students on topics such as research practices.
  • 2016 User Satisfaction Survey: surveyed library users to determine satisfaction with services & resources.

External Reports

  • ACRL/IPEDS: We report operational statistics and expenditures annually to national groups.
  • Libraries' Annual Report: The Dean reports major accomplishments and progress each year.

"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.

Faculty

  • In a 2016 survey, faculty indicated that they value the library's contribution in building student's research skills and awareness of resources.
  • Library faculty hold Faculty Institutes each year to collaborate with instructional faculty on instructional design and assessing student outcomes.

Students

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.

Contact

Starr Hoffman

Director, Planning & Assessment
702-895-4369
starr.hoffman@unlv.edu
Lied Library 2220

 James Cheng

James Cheng

Library Data Analyst
702-895-1964
james.cheng@unlv.edu
Lied Library 2270