Impact evaluation in school libraries: further reading
American Association of School Librarians. (2014). School Librarians Transform Learning (infographic). Retrieved from: http://www.ala.org/aasl/sites/ala.org.aasl/files/content/advocacy/tools/docs/AASL_Infographic_FINAL.pdf
Lance, K.C. and Kachel, D. E. (2018). Why school librarians matter: what years of research tell us. Retrieved from:
http://www.kappanonline.org/lance-kachel-school-librarians-matter-years-research/
Markless, S. and Streatfield, D. (2013). Evaluating the impact of your library. 2nd edition. London: Facet
Markless, S. (ed.). (2016). The Innovative School Librarian. 2nd edition. London: Facet
Teravainen, A. and Clark, C. (2017). School Libraries – a literature review of current provision and evidence of impact. London: National Literacy Trust
Scholastic. (2016). School libraries work! A compendium of research supporting the effectiveness of school libraries. USA: Scholastic Library Publishing.
Scottish Library and Information Council. (2018). Vibrant Libraries, Thriving Schools. A national strategy for school libraries in Scotland 2018 – 2023. Retrieved from:
https://scottishlibraries.org/media/2108/vibrant-libraries-thriving-schools.pdf
Key issues for
school librarians
Impact Evaluation for
School Librarians:
an Introduction Lucy Chambers, MSc, MCLIP, School Library Consulant
CILIP SCHOOL LIBRARIES GROUP 2019
Key issues series no. 1
Impact evaluation toolkits: skills, techniques, templates
CILIP Impact Toolkit (for CILIP members only): cilip.org.uk
Development Impact and You Toolkit (includes Theory Of Change templates), Nesta:
https://diytoolkit.org/tools/theory-of-change/
(This work is ©Nesta licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International Licence)
NHS Library Services Knowledge for Health Value and Impact Toolkit:
https://kfh.libraryservices.nhs.uk/value-and-impact-toolkit/
Reading Agency Reading Outcomes Framework Toolkit:
https://readingagency.org.uk/news/blog/reading-outcomes-framework-toolkit.html
Scottish Library and Information Council How Good Is Our School Library:
https://scottishlibraries.org/advice-guidance/how-good-is-our-school-library/
Measuring success with evidence of impact
Use impact evaluation to show stakeholders how the
school librarian’s work makes a difference
What is your project trying to achieve? Consider what
evidence you need at the planning stage.
What evidence can you collect? Use questionnaires,
pupils’ work, talk to school staff, observe, collect and
analyse library use data. Keep a monitoring book. Use qualitative and quantitative
data
Evaluate pupils at the start of the project and the end so that you can
measure the difference; compare data collected over time
“Does it work? (effectiveness); does it make a difference? (impact) measured by
outcomes = evidence.” Professor Alison Brettle, 2017
Create a monitoring sheet: include project details, how you will measure impact,
impact evidence and future plans
Record changes in pupils’ skills as a result of your project.
“To be effective we must communicate and advocate what we do and
why our skills and professionalism matter. It isn’t enough just to do the
job and hope that people notice, understand and value what we do.
We must prove it with evidence.”
Jan Parry, former CILIP President, 2015
Impact definition:
“The influence of libraries and their services on
individuals and/or on society. The difference or change
in an individual or group resulting from the contact with
library services.”
British Standard ISO 16439:2014 ““Many of the
imaginative
programmes to
encourage reading
that inspectors see
are inspired by a
good librarian.”
Improving literacy
in secondary
schools: a shared
responsibility.
Ofsted, 2013
School librarians have contact with
every student and teacher and are
central to developing library programs
that raise student achievement.”
School Libraries Work!, 2016.
Impact evaluation reports
Analyse data and evidence from your monitoring book and monitoring
sheet
When writing reports, ask ‘So what?’: what impact has your work had
on pupils and the school?
Present results in written reports, tables, charts and infographics
Produce a logic model about your project showing the steps from the
original situation to the intended impact
Use the results to plan further projects
Write case studies for the Great School Libraries Campaign using
impact evaluation to show change
Great school libraries are a vital part of improving
outcomes for children. They do this in a range of
different ways and through building a library habit
which can support them throughout their education
and beyond.”
Great School Libraries Campaign, 2018