Assess Needs

Assess the needs of your library and its community. You become an expert on your community as you define and implement your own process of assessment. Assessment tools are provided as well as practical methods for success.

Assessment involves collecting community data and statistics of all kinds. Our resources make it simple. They help you decide what kinds of data to collect and how to use that information. A number of these links also provide tools, checklists, and fact sheets.

It is important to learn about your own organization as you reach out to diverse populations. Our internal assessment tools help you to identify your strengths as well as areas for improvement as you plan strategies to raise organizational awareness and readiness.

Find more successful commmunity analysis reports from other libraries, manuals and textbooks about assessment, and even courses or fee-based services as you read more about needs assessment.

TIP: The Special Populations Committee undertook community needs assessments for three libraries in 2007. Information on this pilot project may be found at this site.

Find this report on the Colorado Projects and Staff Visits Page

TIP: The Special Populations Committee undertook community needs assessments for three libraries in 2007. Information on this pilot project may be found at this site.

Process of Assessment

  • A Guide to Planning & Implementing Cultural Competence Self-Assessment (pdf)
    Short overview of internal assessments by the National Center for Cultural Competence at Georgetown University, a wealth of publications, consumer health info and cultural awareness, dealing mainly with health information but principles can be applied easily to libraries

    http://www11.georgetown.edu/research/gucchd/nccc/documents/ncccorgselfassess.pdf

  • Community Analysis Methods and Evaluative Options: The CAMEO Handbook
    In-depth report and worksheets for conducting community analysis in various degrees. Produced for the Library of Virginia in part by Nancy Bolt and Keith Curry Lance

    http://skyways.lib.ks.us/pathway/cameo/

  • Getting Ready to Market the Library to Culturally Diverse Communities
    Article includes Yolanda Cuesta’s popular checklist for accessibility; Cuesta, Yolanda J. and Gail McGovern. Alki: The Washington Library Association Journal, 2002.

    http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=1526

  • NOAA Needs Assessment  Training
    The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) site  provides a training module on needs assessment and how to best identify service  community. This site covers market analysis, sample sizes, and assessment  methods.

    http://www.csc.noaa.gov/needs/home.html

Collecting Community Data

  • Census American Community Survey
    American Community Survey updates states’ and some communities’ census figures with estimates

    http://factfinder.census.gov/home/saff/main.html?_lang=en

  • DataPlace
    A useful tool in viewing service area that consolidates Census and other federal data with charts and maps of demographics (such as income, age, ethnicity, language, education) by zip code or area

    http://www.dataplace.org

  • Library Research Service
    Comprehensive site on needs assessment and library statistics that includes community analysis scan form and also describes research design under General:Research Methods

    http://www.lrs.org/public/community.php

  • Program Planning and Assessment Needs Assessment Fact Sheets
    Quick tools to gather info from groups and leaders as an alternative to surveys as well as fact sheets on various types of community data collection, including focus groups and key informants, all from University of Illinois Extension

    http://ppa.aces.uiuc.edu/NeedsAsmnt.htm

  • Reaching the Masses: Assessing Community Needs Through Key Informants
    Provides information on interviewing key community leaders and includes sample interview form

    http://srpln.msstate.edu/seal/03curriculum/setting/informants/lesson.htm

Internal Assessment Tools

Read More

  • Aztec Public Library Community Assessment
    Sample reporting results of community analysis from Aztec, NM

    http://www.webjunction.org/do/DisplayContent?id=13091

  • Community Needs Assessments for Collection Development
    Short overview of why and how libraries should conduct assessments from the Arizona State Library’s online collection development training

    http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/commneeds.aspx

  • Community Toolbox
    Comprehensive manual for wholistic community needs assessments (not focused on library services) in downloadable chapters on SWOT analysis, focus groups, forums, surveys and also includes sections on cultural competence, leadership, organizational change and strategic plans

    http://ctb1.ku.edu/tools/en/chapter_1003.htm

  • Conducting Needs Assessments, A Multidisciplinary Approach
    Textbook focusing on gathering community data via survey methods. Soriano, Fernando I. Sage Human Services Guides, Volume 68.

    http://www.worldcat.org/oclc/32166625

  • LibQUAL+(TM) software for community assessment
    ARL service, fee for online data collection ($2850 in 2007)

    http://www.libqual.org/About/Information/index.cfm

  • MPI Data Hub
    Migration Policy Institute maps data and chronicles trends such as foreign-born by state and language proficiency

    http://www.migrationinformation.org/datahub/acscensus.cfm

  • National Center for Education Statistics
    For schools: Statistics and mapping for school district data, including Census, library and state library data that can be searched such as staffing, circulation, budget, etc.

    http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/sdds/

  • Processes & Tools for Cultural Self-Assessment
    Self-assessment bibliography for additional resources on cultural and linguistic competence from Curricula Enhancement Module, National Center for Cultural Competency, Georgetown University

    http://www.nccccurricula.info/resources_mod2.html

  • Latinos & Public Library Perceptions (PDF)
    A 2008 study reporting positive perceptions and draw from marketing ELL, computers, & privacy