21 librarians from across the six LVAIC institutions met at the DeSales University Trexler Library and were introduced to ALA’s Project Outcome by ACRL Program Manager Sara Goek. Goek provided information about Project Outcome’s standardized surveys, which allow for benchmarking across institutions, and led a visioning exercise to help us imagine future assessment projects.

After lunch, the librarians discussed Zoe Fisher’s “Who Succeeds in Higher Education? Questioning the Connection Between Academic Libraries & Student Success.” This article outlines current conversations regarding library assessment and produced thoughtful conversations about our values and assessment at our institutions. Participants expressed their motivations to provide student services, especially to under-served communities, and support student learning. There was discussion about how to augment assessment when institutions require quantitative explanations of library value for benchmarking or norming purposes.

Sara Goek introduces Project Outcome

The entire group.