1st Fridays @ 4, a series of informal themed events hosted by librarians, was designed to engage with students in meaningful conversation and explore the terrain of information resources beyond coursework and research needs. The series marketed with the tag line, fun, food and library finds, included themes of Survivor, Library Edition, Celebrate the Chinese New Year, and The Secret World of Rare Books. The series was highly successful, providing direction for the current year.
In its recent strategic planning effort, the University of Cincinnati Libraries (UCL) identified assessment as one of five strategic directions. The overall goal is to “ensure library user input into decision making about collections, services, and facilities.” While UCL has participated in LibQUAL+ regularly since 2002, and conducted other studies, UCL’s Transforming the UC Library User Experience, Strategic Plan 2011-2014, places increased focus and importance on gathering information and data from and about our users to inform decisions. The presenters will share their experience developing an assessment plan for UCL and initial efforts in building a culture of assessment. The design, methodology and approach of two focused surveys, that are a part of our coordinated plan of assessment, will be shared.