Performance Standard

Outcomes

Planned Activities

80% of surveyed students, faculty, staff and community patrons will agree that the quality of reference desk assistance/service is “above average” or better.

77% of student respondents agreed that the quality of reference service is “above average” or “exceptional.”  Faculty and staff rated this service at 89% above average or better.   Surveyed groups declined from last year’s 86% rating for students and 95% for faculty and staff.  This decline was the first since 2000.  Computer hardware for the reference desk still needs to be updated, but it is unlikely that this equipment caused the decline.  Successful activities performed in prior years will be revisited.  This standard will not be continued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will appear in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Schedule additional library personnel to be available for work at the reference work during peak traffic periods.
• Update handouts explaining the library’s reference services and contact information.  Update the computer hardware at the reference desk to ensure adequate access to online information.
• Continue to advertise the reference desk to students during campus tours and bibliographic instruction sessions.
• Remind faculty and staff that reference assistance is available at staff/division meetings.  Attempt to answer each email reference question in a timely manner while providing accurate, reliable information.
• Update the library’s online reference services and develop online resource guides to support each of the college’s ten academic programs.

80% of surveyed students, faculty, staff and community patrons will agree that the library is open adequate hours.

92% of student respondents agreed that the library’s hours of operation are “adequate,” “good,” or “exceptional.”  100% of faculty and staff reached the same conclusion.  Surveyed groups indicated that the library has exceeded the performance standard.  This result is consistent with the findings from the previous 5 years.  Some students (12) called for weekend hours and extended evening hours.  Despite these concerns, the library hours will not be changed in the upcoming year.  If these requests increase, the library hours will be modified during future years.  This standard will not be continued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will appear in the library’s Annual Report.

• Continue to advertise the library’s hours on the library web page and brochures.
• Continue to inform faculty (including adjunct faculty) about the library’s hours and services through faculty orientations, meetings and newsletters.
• Continue to communicate with local public libraries about our library services and hours of operation.

80% of surveyed students, faculty and staff members will agree that the library’s collections are easily accessible.

100% of students indicated that the library’s collections were easily accessible, and 100% of faculty and staff reached the same conclusion.  Since 1998, the outcome for this performance standard has been exceeded, and because of this success, this standard will no longer be reported in the college’s Institutional Report.  It will be continued, however, in the library’s Annual Report to help meet SACS accreditation criteria for academic libraries. 

• Continue to schedule library staff to “read” library shelves to find misplaced material.
• Follow up on library staff efforts to find missing material and document progress.
• Update library inventory records and the online catalog (Voyager) after missing titles have been confirmed.
• Develop additional signage in the library for patrons.
• Make flyers explaining the LC classification readily available electronically and as a brochure.

80% of surveyed students, faculty, and staff members who indicate a response other than “don’t know” will agree that they are able to check out library material in five minutes or less.

75% of students agreed that they are able to check out library material in five minutes or less.    87% of faculty and staff indicated that they could check out library in five minutes or less.  This year’s student response rate fell below the 2002-03 response rate of 83%.  Faculty and staff responses also showed a decline.  Obsolete computer hardware unable to properly support new versions of the online catalog software may have contributed to the overall decline.  Successful activities from previous years will be revisited, and incorporated into next year’s activities.  This performance standard will not be continued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will be maintained in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Continue to schedule additional library personnel at the circulation desk during peak traffic periods to ensure that assistance is available.
• Train library personnel, especially new student employees, to handle circulation requests efficiently.  This includes the Voyager circulation module and reserve items.
• Seek computer upgrades to support Windows 2000 or higher edition.

80% of students completing the Pathfinder to the Library Workbook I will receive a grade of B or above.

91% of students completing the Pathfinder I workbook during Summer (2003), Fall (2003), and Spring (2004) received a grade B or above.  This outcome exceeds last year’s outcome of 90%.  Efforts to write a new online workbook for ENC 091 are ongoing along with preparations for a workbook involving RDG 030.  All material will be made available in an online format.  This performance standard will not be continued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will be included in the library’s Annual Report to support SACS accreditation guidelines.  Number of students taking the Pathfinder Workbook/Exam:  284

• During information literacy training sessions, continue to review the subject material discussed in the Pathfinder Workbook I and II explain the related assignments.
• Continue to provide tours and training sessions for students enrolled in English 101/102, and ENC 091.
• Update and modify the library’s information literacy workbooks and assignments to incorporate database changes, policy changes, and new library services.
• Work with faculty members to ensure that students understand the material.

80% of surveyed students, faculty and staff members who have used the library’s ILL service will agree that interlibrary loan orders are filled within three weeks after a request has been made.

74% of student respondents indicated that their ILL requests were filled within five days or less with the remaining 26% receiving their information within six to ten days.  90% of faculty and staff indicated that their ILL requests were filled within five days or less with the remaining 10% indicating six to ten days.   The outcomes for this performance standard have remained consistently around 75% (for students) over the past few years.  Faculty and staff results exceeded the performance standard for the second time in seven years.  Activities appear to be effective and will be continued; however, this performance standard will no longer be included in the college’s Institutional Report.  It will be presented in the library’s Annual Report for departmental planning purposes. 

• Emphasize the training of library staff.  Send Lynda Sinnett to OCLC/SOLINET workshops on ILL to keep abreast of technological changes.
• Update the ILL form on the library’s web page.
• Notify patrons that their requested material is available on the same day that the material arrives via phone and/or email.

80% of surveyed students will rate the periodical collection consisting of magazines, journals and newspapers as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful” material.

73% of responding students indicated that the periodical collection as “useful” or better while the remaining 27% had “never used” this collection.  21% of the library’s book budget was spent on periodicals – over double the anticipated amount.  This also marks an increase over last year.  Feedback was received from faculty members to reduce the periodical collection to meet budget reductions.  No new periodicals were purchased, so there were no postings to the library’s web page.  The periodical hardcopy collection was maintained at 185 issues, but will be reduced next year.  Efforts to inform students about the availability and value of the periodical collection will continue.  This performance standard will not be included in the college’s Institutional Report, and will instead be placed in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Due to an increase in cost and no budget increase, the library will spend 20% of the library’s book budget on the hard copy periodical collection to maintain 175 periodical titles.  (This represents a decrease in 10 titles.)
• Continue to solicit help from faculty and staff when developing the periodical collection.
• Continue to read Katz Magazines for Libraries and other evaluative sources to keep abreast of needed titles for the periodical collection.
• Continue to acquire selected materials through Ebsco, or another vendor to minimize shipping, handling, and labor costs.
• Process new periodical material the same day that it arrives.
• Notify library patrons about new periodical material via the library’s web page.
• Inform students about the periodical collection during bibliographic instruction and tours.

80% of surveyed students will rate the audio-visual collections as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful” material.

23% of students agreed that the audio-visual collections contain “useful”, “very useful,” or “most useful” material.  The remaining 77% indicated that they have “never used” the collection and couldn’t comment on it.  The outcomes for this standard have consistently been well below the goal.  Different activities have not made a difference.  Budget allocations for the acquisition of audio-visual material will continue and faculty will be consulted prior to purchases, but this performance standard will no longer be included in the college’s Institutional Report.  Nor will it be included in the library’s Annual Report. 

Performance Standard has been discontinued.

80% of students who respond to the ENG 101 and ENG 102 Pathfinder Workbook surveys will rate the bibliographic instruction presentation as “above average” or “exceptional.”

84% of students completing the Pathfinder Workbook surveys indicated that the library’s bibliographic instruction presentations were “above average” or “exceptional.”   The performance standard was exceeded by 4%.  Most of the activities were completed including the addition of LCD projector, computer, furniture and overhead screen.  Efforts to expand the bibliographic instruction courses for ENC 090 and ENC 091 are ongoing.  This performance standard will no longer appear in the college’s Institutional Report, but will be included in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Work with faculty teaching developmental reading and English courses to better design information literacy training sessions for RDG 020, RDG 030, and ENC 091 students.
• Continue to review and update the presentations with ENG 101 & 102 faculty to ensure the accuracy and relevancy of the content.
• Update the handouts for students outlining the material to be discussed.

80% of students who respond to the ENG 101 and ENG 102 Pathfinder Workbook surveys will rate the respective online workbooks as “helpful,” “very helpful,” or “most helpful.”

97% of students responding to Pathfinder Workbook surveys rated the Pathfinder I Workbook as “helpful,” “very helpful,” or “most helpful.”  100% of student respondents rated the Pathfinder II Workbook as “helpful,” “very helpful,” or “most helpful.”  The outcomes show that the online workbooks for ENG 101 and ENG 102 continue to be well received by students.  The library needs to continue this success by reviewing and updating the content of the workbooks.  The library staff is building on this success by adding similar workbooks for ENC 091 and RDG 030. This performance standard will be discontinued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will appear in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Continue to review the content of the Pathfinder Workbooks to ensure the currency and accuracy of the information.
• Review and update the information literacy web pages.
• Continue to work with ENG 101 & ENG 102 faculty to learn their preferences concerning the workbooks’ format, layout, and content.
• Continue to explore other workbook possibilities for other courses and academic programs by attending professional development workshops and attending conferences.

80% of surveyed faculty and staff will rate the library’s bibliographic instruction program as “above average” or “exceptional.”

83% of faculty and staff rated the library’s bibliographic instruction program as “above average” or “exceptional.”  The remaining 17% had no opinion.  The outcome for this performance standard was met for the second year in a row.  Communication with the faculty about the bibliographic instruction program needs to be increased and emphasized.  Successful activities will be continued.  This performance standard will be discontinued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will appear in the library’s Annual Report. 

• Continue to keep faculty informed about the library’s BI efforts through e-mail, handouts, and meetings.
• Continue to inform new faculty members about the BI services during new faculty orientation.
• Continue to make information about the BI services available to adjunct and off-campus instructors.
• Update and maintain handouts outlining the mission, focus, and benefits of the BI program.

80% of surveyed faculty and staff will rate the library’s online Pathfinder Workbooks as “helpful,” “very helpful,” or “most helpful.”

This performance standard was not assessed this year and will be discontinued on a permanent basis.  The data generated is not helpful in making decisions or developing future action plans.

Discontinued.

80% of surveyed students (ENG 102) will rate the library’s reference collection as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful.”

72% of students rated the reference collection as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful.”  The remaining 28% indicated that they had never used this collection and couldn’t comment on its usefulness.  The outcome for this performance standard improved over those of previous years despite falling short of the goal.  This indicates that the planned activities are working and should be continued.  The amount of budget spent on the reference collection was 26% - exceeding the intended allocation.  Efforts to streamline the library’s overall budget will likely cause a reduction in acquisitions during the upcoming year.  The performance standard will not be included in the college’s Institutional Plan, but will appear in the library’s Annual Report. 

• 25% of the library’s book budget will be spent on reference titles.
• Continue to solicit help from faculty and staff when developing the library’s reference titles.
• Continue to keep informed about new reference titles by reading related trade journals.
• Acquire reference materials within two weeks after selection.
• Continue to notify library patrons about new acquisitions via the library’s web page, e-mail, The Green Street Journal, and other handouts.
• Continue to inform students about the collection and its usefulness during tours, email, and bibliographic instruction sessions.

80% of surveyed students, faculty, and staff will rate the Ebsco, ProQuest, InfoTrac, and NewsBank database collections as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful.”

Surveyed faculty, staff, and students rated the following databases as “useful,” “very useful,” or “most useful.”

The apathy from faculty about the databases continued from last year. Most had no opinion. Student respondents rated the EBSCO and the ProQuest databases below last year's percentage with NewsBank and InfoTrac receiving higher marks. Students are continuing to find the offered databases to be useful.   

This evaluation will be tabled in favor of another data gathering technique: focus groups. Librarians will attend division meetings and solicit input from students about databases following IL class sessions.

100 titles will be added to the book and audio-visual collection for each of the following ten programs:  Agricultural Technology, Business Technology, Clinical Laboratory Technology, Dental Hygiene, Early Childhood Education, Human Services, Industrial Engineering Technology, Information Technology, Medical Assisting and Nursing over a three-year time frame.  One-third of the titles will be added in 2004-05.

Titles added to the ten programs are as follows:

Ag. Tech:  10; Business Tech:  51; CLT:  5; Dental Hygiene: 4; ECE: 7; Human Services: 0; IET: 4; Info. Tech: 29; Medical Asst: 6; Nursing 112.   Spending from the library’s acquisitions budget was ceased in January to comply with budget reductions imposed by KCTCS central office.  Consequently, acquisitions for the programs were unbalanced.  Efforts must be made after July 1 to finish preparations for NLN’s site visit in the fall.  Emphasis will be placed on Nursing, Dental Hygiene, ECE, and Ag Tech.  This performance standard will be discontinued in the college’s Institutional Report, but will be included in the library’s Annual Report.

• Funding no longer permits us to provide each academic program with an equal share of the acquisitions of the budget, so funds will be allocated to meet the needs of individuall accredited programs. 
• Continue to consult with accrediting agencies for title recommendations along with faculty members from each program area. 
• Continue to weeding all collections and record the changes in the library’s inventory database.
• Continue to monitor acquisition levels during each quarter of the fiscal year.