EVALUATION DECISION-MAKING SYSTEM
(EDMS)
Welcome
Welcome to the EDMS. The EDMS is a centralized public access portal designed to provide information related to evaluation of a library's services and resources for management and advocacy purposes. Information provided includes:
- Types of evaluation methods typically used to assess the use of services and resources;
- Data each type of evaluation can provide;
- How to plan for data collection efforts and tips on how to analyze the data; and
- Strategies on how to apply the results of evaluation efforts for management and advocacy purposes.
The evaluation modules of the EDMS system provide an overview of available evaluation methods, guidance on the application of the evaluation methods, and links to additional evaluation resources on how to conduct library related evaluations.
Additional information about the EDMS is available here.
Purpose
The overall purpose of this project is to develop a system that will help public librarians and managers match data collection needs with best evaluation approaches to demonstrate public library value to communities served. The following long-term goals guide this process so public librarians and managers will be able to:
- Goal 1: Capture evaluation information regarding library services
and programs that best meets user, community, and public
librarian/manager information needs;
- Goal 2: Select and use appropriate, efficient, and effective evaluation
approaches in order to undertake informative evaluation activities;
- Goal 3: Understand uses, impacts/benefits, value, and other aspects
of library services and programs to library community and
funders; and
- Goal 4: At a local level, more effectively advocate benefits, impacts,
and value of library services and programs to the public library community and funders.
Additionally, meeting these goals will improve library services to better meet patron needs and will provide practical methods and mechanisms for providing evaluation results to local, state, and federal funding agencies.
Funding for this project was provided by a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services. This study began December 01, 2005 and ends July 31, 2009.
