Assessment
The UW Libraries Assessment Program has delivered critical information about user needs, library and information use, importance, impact and priorities for more than 20 years.
Our work helps Libraries staff to understand user community needs and improve support for teaching, learning, and research at the University of Washington. We actively partner with Libraries and UW units to advance data gathering, analysis, and communication that is aligned with the mission, vision, and values of the UW and the Libraries. Assessment activities inform and are guided by the Libraries Strategic Plan.
Quantitative and qualitative assessment data gathered through this program informs decision-making and illuminates the impact of the Libraries on student and faculty success.
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What we Do
Assessment staff lead large scale projects that require a Libraries-wide view and have broad impact. The program emphasis is on projects that actively guide improvement and decision making, and that lead to a deeper understanding of user needs in ways that can lead to changes to services, spaces, and/or resources.
We offer expertise for projects that require more complex methodologies and data analysis approaches, and work with Libraries staff to coordinate small-scale assessment activities through the Libraries. We share our commitment to best practices in assessment by providing support to staff working with Libraries data and data visualizations and by offering training, resources, and support to staff throughout the assessment and data gathering cycle.
The Libraries conducts large-scale user surveys to help us understand faculty, graduate, and undergraduate student needs, satisfaction, and priorities. We use these results to improve Libraries services, resources, and spaces. The Libraries has conducted extensive large-scale surveys of faculty and students since 1992.
Recent Surveys
- 2023 Emerging Research Needs survey
- 2021 Reopening Survey
- Historical survey trends
The Libraries engages annually in targeted projects focused on specific questions, services, spaces, and/or user groups. Results from these focused projects are used for the ongoing improvement of Libraries support for faculty and students.
Recent Projects
- Wellness Room
- First Generation Graduate Student Research Process
- First Generation College Student Participatory Design
The Libraries collects a range of statistical data to inform decision making and improve services for users across all three campuses. Key statistics include: gate counts, circulation, reference, and instruction statistics. Statistics are also reported to the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and the Association of College and Research Libraries (ACRL), which facilitates national benchmarking among peer libraries.
Recent Statistics
The Libraries employs a range of tools to support planning and management activities; Assessment manages the Libraries Tableau, Qualtrics, and LibInsight licenses, developing data processes, dashboards and visualizations that support effective decision-making and communication.
Recent Dashboards
Guiding Principles
Our focus is on library patrons and the ongoing improvement of spaces, services and resources for the diverse communities served by the UW Libraries. Internal data gathering and process improvement is approached through the lens of outcomes and impact for Libraries users.
We strive to connect assessment and planning in meaningful ways: our assessment activities are guided by Libraries strategic priorities, and we aim to ensure that these priorities are informed by the needs of our communities. Assessment & Planning staff take an intentional, coordinated approach for assessment activities to ensure ethical, inclusive, and actionable data gathering. We recognize that our work is connected to others throughout the LIbraries and approach experimentation thoughtfully and iteratively, mindful of the downstream effects. We invest in creating sustainable processes and procedures to save Libraries staff time and reduce burdens on library users.
Assessment & Planning staff leverage their Libraries-wide purview to encourage coordination, information sharing, and communication among Libraries staff in order to guide improvements and decision-making. We recognize the complex workflows and experiences of Libraries users and aim to foster assessment projects that transcend traditional operational silos and illuminate the holistic user experience. These partnerships provide opportunities for staff growth while empowering staff to take action on data and ensure that projects have a meaningful impact. We actively seek participatory methods and partnerships beyond the Libraries in order to take a broader view of student and faculty needs.
We commit to centering equity and inclusion at all stages of the assessment process. In line with Libraries values and priorities, Assessment staff seek to employ intentional recruitment strategies to ensure that data reflects our diverse user communities, draw upon methods that advance co-creation and shared decision-making, and foster ongoing dialogue about changes made in response to user feedback. We recognize that data represents and simplifies the complexity of human life and that we hold positions of power and privilege in representing that experience. We aim to bring a critical lens to our work while remaining responsive to rapidly changing environments.