Selection & Evaluation of Information Sources and Services Dr. Dania Bilal IS 530 Fall 2009.
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Transcript of Selection & Evaluation of Information Sources and Services Dr. Dania Bilal IS 530 Fall 2009.
Selection & Selection & Evaluation of Evaluation of Information Information Sources and Sources and
ServicesServicesDr. Dania BilalDr. Dania BilalIS 530IS 530
Fall 2009Fall 2009
Why Evaluate Services?Why Evaluate Services?
Assess and improve the quality of Assess and improve the quality of existing servicesexisting services
Identify the need for new types of Identify the need for new types of services or programsservices or programs
Justify funding and supportJustify funding and support
Why Evaluate Services?Why Evaluate Services?
Manage human and physical Manage human and physical resources more effectively and resources more effectively and efficientlyefficiently
Justify the need for maintaining Justify the need for maintaining services and need for additional services and need for additional programsprograms
EvaluationEvaluation
Collection available to provide a Collection available to provide a serviceservice In-house reference collectionIn-house reference collection
Print Print Online (local and remote access)Online (local and remote access)
Virtual collectionVirtual collection Web sources that complement existing Web sources that complement existing
collection in a specific areacollection in a specific area IssuesIssues
EvaluationEvaluation
Measuring the quality of reference Measuring the quality of reference serviceservice In person (mediator’s skills in interacting In person (mediator’s skills in interacting
with user to identify information need)with user to identify information need) Digital via chat, email Digital via chat, email
Service provided by professional vs. service Service provided by professional vs. service provided by volunteers, student assistants provided by volunteers, student assistants
Accuracy of answersAccuracy of answers Level of assistance given in using sourcesLevel of assistance given in using sources Knowledge of collectionKnowledge of collection
EvaluationEvaluation
Meeting user information needsMeeting user information needs Measuring user satisfactionMeasuring user satisfaction MethodsMethods
FormalFormal InformalInformal
Evaluation GuidelinesEvaluation Guidelines
RUSA guidelines for behavioral RUSA guidelines for behavioral performanceperformance Text, pp. 17-18.Text, pp. 17-18. http://www.ala.org/rusahttp://www.ala.org/rusa
Selection of Reference Selection of Reference SourcesSources
RUSA Reference Committee RUSA Reference Committee provides a list of provides a list of outstanding reference sources
Appears annually in May issue of Appears annually in May issue of American American LibrariesLibraries
Has print sourcesHas print sources Target small- and medium-sized academic Target small- and medium-sized academic
and public librariesand public libraries
Knowing your community is a key to Knowing your community is a key to selecting appropriate sources selecting appropriate sources
Selection Aids Selection Aids ARBA (American Reference Books ARBA (American Reference Books
Annual)Annual) GuidesGuides
Guide to Reference Books Guide to Reference Books Walford’s Guide to Reference MaterialsWalford’s Guide to Reference Materials Recommended Reference Books for Small Recommended Reference Books for Small
and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media and Medium-Sized Libraries and Media CentersCenters
Guide to Reference Materials for School Guide to Reference Materials for School Library Media Centers Library Media Centers (Safford, Barbara R.) (Safford, Barbara R.)
See Text, pp. 23-24.See Text, pp. 23-24.
Selection of Reference Selection of Reference SourcesSources
Booklist Booklist ((Reference Book BulletinReference Book Bulletin)) Library Journal Library Journal (print, websites, and (print, websites, and
databases)databases) School Library JournalSchool Library Journal Reference & User Services QuarterlyReference & User Services Quarterly Books in Print With Book ReviewsBooks in Print With Book Reviews Choice Choice (reviews electronic databases (reviews electronic databases
in each issue)in each issue)
Evaluation of Print Evaluation of Print SourcesSources
Criteria:Criteria: PurposePurpose AuthorityAuthority CurrencyCurrency Physical conditionPhysical condition FormatFormat Curriculum needsCurriculum needs Target audienceTarget audience Objectiveness of contentObjectiveness of content Online availabilityOnline availability CostCost
Evaluation of Electronic Evaluation of Electronic DatabasesDatabases
PurposePurpose DesignDesign
User InterfaceUser Interface Search and Retrieval featuresSearch and Retrieval features
Record structureRecord structure Navigation Navigation
Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, Visual elements (icons, metaphors, colors, etc.)etc.)
Ease of useEase of use Links to external resources (e.g., SFX) Links to external resources (e.g., SFX)
Evaluation of Electronic Evaluation of Electronic DatabasesDatabases
AuthorityAuthority Coverage (time period)Coverage (time period) Scope (type of publications covered/indexed)Scope (type of publications covered/indexed) Full-text availability of articlesFull-text availability of articles Target audienceTarget audience Curriculum needsCurriculum needs CostCost Hardware platformHardware platform Web interface Web interface CustomizationCustomization