Objective
Managing Information Resources: Selecting, Organizing, Using

Indicator
Candidates develop procedures to analyze the effectiveness of library media policies, procedures and operations.

When it comes to self-assessment, it's nearly impossible to get outside and look back in. The best bet is to recruit other people's perspectives.

That's why I asked school staff members to help review our media program. The trick, however, was to obtain input without demanding too much time out of teachers' already overburdened schedules.

First I abbreviated Maryland's Standards for School Library Media Programs to create a simplified diagnostic tool. Then I assembled an advisory committee of teachers from three different departments to use this rubric for a first pass of input. For additional feedback I devised a simple twenty-question online survey, again based on the Maryland standards, and emailed our entire staff with an invitation to contribute.

There's an inherent problem with receiving so much input -- it tends to raise the bar on expectations. My media team felt this as we used all the feedback to identify targets for improvement and to write annual goals.

But including other voices in our program review has stoked our hunger to accomplish more. We've written big goals that will revolutionize the services we offer, benefiting both teachers and students.

Artifacts

File: Media Advisory Committee Overview (PDF)

File: Diagnostic Tool (PDF)

Link: Media Program Evaluation Online Survey
username: staff
password: staff

Files:
Online Survey Results 1 (PDF)
Results 2 (PDF)

File: Targets for Improvement (PDF)

File: Annual Goals (PDF)

McDaniel College
Westminster, Maryland 21157-4390
410-848-7000