1. Strategic Directions Along an Assessment Continuum
Carol Hunter
Deputy University Librarian & AUL for Collections & Services
Heather Gendron
Assessment Coordinator & Head of the Sloane Art Library
UNC Chapel Hill

2. UNC Library Strategic Plan
University Libraries, in partnership with Health Sciences Library
Assessment – continuous and the bedrock of our strategic planning and implementation process
Strategic Planning Assessment: environmental scan, interviews and focus groups w/ faculty and students

3. Strategic Plan Themes The Research Lifecycle:
Foster researchers’ success by providing active support throughout the research lifecycle, from identification of the problem through
dissemination of results.
Transformative Teaching & Learning:
Support continuous and transformative learning experiences by engaging in all aspects of the educational continuum.
Service To and Beyond the UNC Community:
Support an informed and engaged citizenry and scholarly community statewide and globally, and provide information resources and services that support the health care and economic development of North Carolina.

4. Strategic Assessment Approach
“The demonstration of value is not about looking valuable, it’s about being valuable.” – Megan Oakleaf (Value of Academic Libraries, ACRL report)
“Identify users’ needs, measure the impact of library services on users, and use results to improve student, faculty, and library performance.”
-“Guiding Principles” ( UNC University Library Strategic Plan)

5. “Investing in Success”
GOAL 5: Demonstrate and communicate library value. ( strategic plan)
Conduct periodic and comprehensive user-centered assessments in order to inform planning and improve services.
Collect, analyze, and report data that support decision making, improve performance, and demonstrate the value of library services, collections, and environments.
Build awareness of and support for library spaces, collections, expertise, and services through a comprehensive communications and marketing program.

6. UNC Library Assessment Program
Library statistics
Point-of-need, staff-initiated studies
Campus-wide surveys (Ithaka S+R)

7. Why Ithaka S+R?
Faculty survey aligned w/ national survey results, present
Participation in student survey pilot – cognitive interview study
Results provide insights into non-library factors that influence teaching, learning, research, and scholarship

8. Collect data & information Analyze, evaluate, reflect
Identify problem
Strategize & plan
Collect data & information
Analyze, evaluate, reflect
Disseminate results
Research
Lifecycle

9. Skilled staff to support research
Spaces for consultation, creation, and presentation
Cutting-edge technologies, with training and support
Events that showcase faculty and student research
Opportunities for colleagues to connect

12. FACULTY RESPONSE: How important to your research is each of the following digital research activities and methodologies today?
***Scale: 10 equals "Extremely important" and 1 equals "Not at all important."

14. Communication Strategies
Internal and external communication:
Collections & Services 2014/15 program and Library All Staff meetings
Administrative Board of the Library
Detailed Ithaka surveys report
1 page briefing for staff and UNC community

15. Thanks! Carol Hunter cfhunter@email.unc.edu
Heather Gendron