Administrative and Management Skills

Reduce Harmful Habits: Evaluating Library Programs

Dark blue text reads Reduce Harmful Habits. Underneath, black text reads Evaluating Library Programs. To the right of the text is an image of two speech bubbles. To the left of the text is an image of a document and magnifying glass.

This year, “traditional” New Year’s resolutions through a library lens. So far, we’ve explored ways to exercise more, live life to the fullest, eat healthier, lose weight, save money, get organized, and learn a new skill. This month, tackling one of the most common resolutions: reducing harmful habits. Rather than focusing on our own habits, we’ll explore the habits library programs develop over time. Just because we’ve always offered a program or presented it a certain way doesn’t mean that it’s still the best option. Instead, thoughful evaluation can help us find what no longer serves community needs, library goals, or even staff capacity.

Guest Blogger

Program Data Collection: A Quick Guide

Last month, I wrote about documenting successful programs. While those details are important, they aren’t the only factor in a program’s ongoing success. Today, I’m exploring program data collection. Gut feelings are important, but we also need objective evaluation methods. Whether you’re looking to convince your administration, a Friends group, or a funding source, data is important. Let’s explore the tools I use with Family Place.