Initiative Review Group XI Final Report June 30, 2001
Develop and Document a Plan for Data Collection and Analysis.
Members:
Usha Gupta, leader; Jo Grippe, Ann Waligorski, Judy Culberson and Candy Combs.
Background:
All units in the library currently collect data and report statistics to the administration. They also maintain statistics for internal use of the department that is not reported. However, after collecting samples of group collected samples of the data and statistics generated by various units in the library, this group discovered that the units do not provide currently any documentation listing the rational, process, technique used in analysis, or the use of the statistics collected by the unit.
Recommendations:
The committee members have identified issues that need to be addressed. The library administration should:
- Look at services in the Libraries that lend themselves to measurement and data collection
- Examine the types of decisions the various units in the library are making that require statistics or performance measures
- What kinds of data the library administrations needs from the various library units for the reports the library prepares for the university administration.
- Any need for statistics or reports and data collections for organizations outside the library
- What types of data these organizations request
Provide each unit with guidelines and clearly defined parameters for the data and statistics it needs from the various units.
I. Each unit should create and maintain a document addressing the following points:
a. Outline of the parent organizations need for statistics and performance measures
b. Purpose of data collection and statistics for the department/unit.
c. Method used for data collection and analysis by the department.
d. Types of data that should be collected. Clearly defined parameters that generate measurable and quantifiable data which lends it self to quantitative and qualitative analysis.
e. When, where and how the data will be used (For example, decision making, measuring the units productivity, staff needs etc).II. Each unit/department should:
a. Examine the data currently collected to determine if they provide performance measures and whether the statistics generated are useful and needed; look at the data and statistics generated on a regular basis to determine if the statistics generated reflect the productivity, cost, use, collections and service provided by the unit/department, if changes are needed, make the necessary refinements in data collection and statistics to reflect performance measures in operational terms.
b. Review what statistical information can be generated from Infolinks. Who will be responsible for generating and reporting the statistics?
c. Use terminology consistently within the various units so that accumulating data/ statistics from different departments is easy. The results are easily determined and understood.
d. Be able to rationalize the statistics for relevance and efficiency in the data collected.
Time required for planning and implementation of this initiative:
It will take approximately one semester to plan and implement this initiative.
Priority level for this initiative:
This initiative is mission-critical because accountability is paramount to success, and an important measure of all functions is data whether it is collections, services or user satisfaction.
