Get outside the lines

"Libraries are dynamic centers for engagement that help everyone in your local community be their best. To shift perceptions, we need to demonstrate how the library is more relevant than ever before.
Let’s not just tell people how libraries have changed; let’s show them.
Outside the Lines is a weeklong celebration demonstrating the creativity and innovation happening in libraries. Whether your organization is large or small, a school library or a public library, you can participate by hosting at least one event or campaign that:

1. Gets people thinking – and talking – about libraries in a different way.
2. Showcases the library out in the community as well as in the library.
3. Highlights how your library is relevant to people’s lives.
4. Represents your local community.
5. Is active versus passive – gets people engaged.
6. Is extraordinary and unexpected.
7. Most importantly, is fun!"

That is lifted verbatim from www.getoutsidethelines.org - now I will find it again if I go looking for it

Outcome Measurements: Practical Considerations

(Notes from a session delivered by Rebecca Jones of Brampton Library.  These are notes I am mostly recording for my personal recollection, they might not be coherent to others.)

• Key questions:  What?  So what?  Now what?
• It is good for outsiders to look at your data - they might bring a different perspective - this is a great role for the board
• You need to understand the perspectives of others if you want to convince / influence them
• Libraries don't tend to have a culture of assessment
• most measures convey past performance
• Our measures don't align with interests of decision-makers (perspective)
• Many partnerships do not include outcome goals or joint measures

"Good to Great" (recommended book)

• Identifying and illustrating value depends on conversations with your stakeholders
• The first conversation shouldn't be the one where success is presented
• More isn't necessarily better - more can cloud the issue and the message

Successful organizations:

• Clarity of purpose
• Understand the external community they work in
• Use performance measure that fit the culture

Surveys are good for evaluating / measuring outcomes and impacts [different from the way we usually think of them in AB - here they are often used as a general needs assessment/service planning, but she's saying they are good for backward-looking, targeted evaluation of a specific service)

• Ask councillors, etc.: what constitutes personal success for them?  "What would a successful term look like for you?"
• If you can meet emotional / value needs (as opposed to the merely practical...)

Seven measurement areas [I think this is from ALA's Project Outcome]:

• Civic / community engagement
• Digital inclusion
• Early childhood literacy
• Economic development
• Education / lifelong learning
• Job skills
• Summer reading