It's Academic

When it comes to assessment, I would venture to say that many a librarian eye tends to glaze over with either a feeling of overwhelming or dryness.  So often, the critical area of assessment is approached as a theoretical endeavor or in such a complicated manner that the librarian feels defeated before beginning or expanding assessment activities in the library.

Well, if you are looking for an opportunity to hear and learn more about assessment in practical terms, don’t miss attending the upcoming March 22nd workshop, Assess to Impress: Demonstrating Your Library’s Value (brochure link).  The workshop will be held at the conveniently located Dixon University Center in Harrisburg, PA, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. and is being presented by the PaLA Teaching, Learning and Technology Roundtable.  (The workshop is made possible by a grant from the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services as administered by the PA Department of Education and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, through the College and Research Division.)

The Assess to Impress Workshop will offer attendees a variety of speakers and formats as well as provide the opportunity to discuss assessment with peers in a comfortable setting.

Keynote speaker Catherine Alloway, past PaLA President and current Schlow Centre Region Library Director, will present the “Downton Abbey Guide to Library Assessment & Benchmarking.”

Corrine Syster, Harrisburg Area Community College, in her “Data Without Dollars” session will show how to create a simple web-based form to collect data and how to use that data to demonstrate a library’s value.

Nancy Adams, Penn State Hershey, will facilitate an “Unconference” discussion among the attendees.  It’s attendees’ choice…anything they want to discuss!

 ALSO

A number of lightning round-presenters will give 15-minute presentations on a particular assessment activity in which the librarians have been involved.  Topics will include:  “What Students Think About E-books” and “Reference is Dead? Demonstrating Vitality with Detailed Usage Statistics.”

 PLUS

          A delicious lunch is included as part of the registration fee.

So…hopefully, this little blog has piqued your interest in the workshop.  News about it has been sent to various listservs, but just in case you’ve overlooked the mailing, you can still register online for the workshop at PaLA — register as a PaLA member or as a guest.

Hope to see you on March 22nd at the Dixon University Center in Harrisburg!