QUALITY ASSESSMENT INSPANISH UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES
Pilar Alcalá CortijoDirector of Institute of Educational SciencesUniversity of Alcalá
Purificación Moscoso CastroVice-rector (Communication and Convergence Policy)University of Alcalá
London, May 2008
WHO´S AFRAID OF NUMBERS?Quality Management in LibrariesInternational Seminar organized by EUROLIS
Need to assess university library quality
Importance of libraries for development of teaching, learning and research activities.
In view of rising costs and shrinking budgets, processes for improving management are essential.
Evolution of assessment processes in Spain
1995 National University Quality Assessment Plan (PNECU)
1999 Starts Bologna Process
2001 University Quality PLan (PCU)
2002 National Agency of Quality Assessment and Accreditation (ANECA)
2003 Berlin Minister´s Conference ask ENQA, EUA, EURASHE y ESIB for the elaboration of Standards and guidelines for Quality Assurance in the European Higher Education Area
Assessment Models UsedThe assessment models used in Spain are based on or derive from one of these systems:
EFQM
Council of Universities’ guide
Catalan agency (AQU)’s guide
ANECA model: at first a library assessment guide; now through the Perfil (Profile) tool.
ISO 9000 Standard
Libqual+
Assessment Methodology
Both the EFQM model and the ISO Standard use a mixed methodology combining internal and external assessment and concluding in a final report with proposals for improvement.
Role of Regional Quality Agencies
11 of the 17 Regional Communities have a Quality Agency. The rest work directly with the National Agency (ANECA)
There is a network of agencies (REACU) with the following goals:
Promotion and development of cooperation
Promotion of quality assurance culture
Promotion of development and implantation of quality assurance and accreditation systems
At present REBIUN has opted for the LibQUAL+ tool:
Based on the SERVQUAL questionnaire created for business by L. Parasuraman and B. Zeithmal in 1988
The LibQUAL+ web tool was developed by the University of Texas A&M and the Association of Research Libraries (ARL)
It enables library service quality to be measured using the data supplied by users in a questionnaire with web interface.
The idea is to compare users’ prior expectations with the views they have after using the service.
UNIVERSITY LIBRARY NETWORK (REBIUN)
www.rebiun.org
THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION