Wednesday, July 3, 2013

From outputs to outcomes: measuring what matters



Moderator: Jay Turner, Georgia Public Library Service
Speaker: David Singleton, Director of Libraries, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library
Speaker: Denise Davis, Deputy Library Director, Sacramento Public Library, Central Library
Speaker: Jan Sanders, Director, Pasadena Public Library
Speaker: Keith Lance, Library Research Service


Description:
Libraries are facing crucial decisions about what kind of data can be used to best make the case for support and can accurately show what 21st century libraries actually do. This program will discuss the basics of data collection in terms of what we collect and why, what options for effective measurement are already being used, and how the information presented in the right way can positively show the library’s impact on the community.Join our panel of library leaders as they discuss their experience with specific programs in their communities. Pasadena Director Jan Sanders will lead Denise Davis, Deputy Director, Sacramento Public Library; David Singleton, Director of Libraries, Charlotte Mecklenburg Library; and Keith Curry Lance of RSL Research Group, Colorado in this important and useful discussion.

My notes on this session are as follows!
1. Denise Davis - Sacramento
  • they normalized their language on Evanced so that they could mine and analyze the data from their programs
  • Tell people about programs at the service desks -word of mouth is very powerful
  • OASIS computer training - what is this?
  • They take customer surveys using the company Counting Opinions (BCPL uses that company too)
2. Keith Lance - LJ Star Library Project
  • Looking to add e-circ, wireless and wifi access to the IMLS survey on which the star ratings are based.  We can talk to Susan Paznekas about that data if we want input but in the meantime, make sure you can measure that
  • Where are the ratings of libraries that don't have 3 stars?
  • Skip Auld used the low ranking of AACPL to help push for more funding for his system.  Smart!
3. David Singleton - Charlotte Mecklenburg
  • Three ways to communicate value
    • Output
    • Outcome
    • Personal Impact stories
  • Use Marketwise Community surveys to gather community data and make data driven decisions
  • "library's role in education is out-of-school learning space and life-long learning
  • Questions to ask:
    • What does success look like?
    • How does this success help tell the library story
  • Sample outcomes - 97% of caregivers attending preschool programs reported they are better prepared to help their children develop pre-reading skills
  • Online summer reading program is amazing!
    • 20 minutes of reading a day is proven to prevent summer slide so they are working to encourage and document 20 minutes of reading
    • library is positioned as a partner in academic success
    • adult participation jumped from 400 to 5,000 when they took it online
    • consistent programming between the age groups so that families can read together
    • Share your Story space available on the registration page and other spots along the way to gather stories
    • site includes recommendations, classes and events
    • $5 fine waiver card is one of their summer reading prizes
    • Staff have access to real-time stats so that they can track participation and get involved in the excitement 
    • They can report the minutes of reading, # of registrants and send reports to elementary schools
    • Results in real time help you tell a different story every time you go out
  • Worked with an elementary school and the UNC-Charlotte Urban Institute to match test scores from a Title One school with summer reading participation
    • 70% of students involved in summer reading maintained or improved
To-do oriented thoughts:
1. Circulate tablets that have apps, magazine, books that are all built around a subject - cooking for example
2. Go look at the LJ library ranking for MD libraries that do not make it into the published article, because we have fewer than 3 stars.  Perhaps like AACPL we can use that to our advantage locally
3. Summer reading planning starts in C-M in September.  Their early learning, childrens, teen, adult and life-long learning staff are all involved as well as folks from the branches.
4. Talk to C-M developer about getting their summer reading programming!

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