Evaluation

General Overview

The state library will attempt to obtain baseline data for all new major projects. During the first year the evaluation process will be applied to selected major projects. Sources of data may include local, state, federal, FSCS or other valid data. Performance measures will be established for each project in this category as well as a look at output and outcome measures. We want to know what the measurable results were of our programs, and will be actively working with other state library groups and the Institute of Museum and Library Services to refine and improve our evaluation to meet national results for information requirements. We would hope to apply the process more extensively in future years. The project results will not only be valuable to the federal LSTA program, but to our state governing and funding agencies. Evaluation results will be shared with others in the field.

Each potential project will be assigned to either a staff member or a team of staff members. Extensive preliminary consultation will be conducted to help understand the proposed project and its applicability to the Arizona plan. Accepted projects will be visited by the project team and be required to complete the ongoing project reports, financial reporting requirements, and strict adherence to the agreed-upon evaluation process.

The evaluation methodology will be developed with the assistance of the University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science and/or the Arizona State University Morrison Institute for Public Policy, and the State Library staff.

Once the evaluation process is in place, a training program for program participants will be initiated.

Needs Assessment

In May of 1997, a thorough study of library needs in Arizona was completed for the Department by the University of Arizona School of Information Resources and Library Science.

The purpose of this project, initiated in 1995, was to conduct a needs assessment that would be used to develop a plan for federal library funding, along with the evaluation of program grant applications. The Department was aware the future of federal and state funding was uncertain, and that the agency would need, now more than ever, to utilize its limited federal and state funds to the maximum advantage. The needs assessment was a two-stage process. Stage I was to conduct a study of a stratified sample of libraries in the state so as to develop a preliminary list of the perceived needs that exist for Arizona libraries. Stage II involved taking this list to the majority of the libraries in the state (public, academic, institutional, and specialized) to ask for rankings, additions to, and discussion about the preliminary list's indicated needs. Data in the report will be used as a baseline for evaluation.

Faculty of the University of Arizona's School of Information Resources and Library Science spent the better part of a year surveying all of Arizona's libraries to determine librarian's perceptions of the needs of their libraries. The completed report, "Needs Assessment for Arizona Libraries," contains data on all types of libraries in Arizona; the report is an important component of the Department's ongoing library development efforts.

Prior to the end of the five-year period covered by this Plan (FY 1998 - FY 2002), the Needs Assessment will be re-evaluated to determine if the identified needs have been satisfied.

We are currently completing a technology needs assessment of Arizona's museum community. That survey will provide important new benchmark data for Arizona's museums.

Advisory Council

Although not mandatory under the LSTA, the Director of the Department believes that the outside advice and assistance of such a group brings an added dimension to the decision-making process on behalf of constituents. The Council will be comprised of members representing libraries, museums, archives, businesses, and other potential participants in the LSTA program.

The plan is to create the Advisory Council through the Winter of 1997. Once in place, its members will be thoroughly advised as to the history of the federal library funding program, the parameters of the new LSTA program, and the results of the recently-completed needs assessment studies, so as to elicit their recommendations and assistance. The Council will be an integral part of the future LSTA Plan and revisions and will advise on the full scope of Department vision and goals.

Arizona understands this process to be on-going; a work-in-progress to be modified over time as needs and resources change.

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Updated: 11/24/2006