Hutchins Library

Blue Line

Bibliographic Instruction Program Evaluation


Blue Line

A LONGITUDINAL STUDY OF A BIBLIOGRAPHIC INSTRUCTION PROGRAM:

AN EXPERIENCE IN ASSESSMENT AND ACCOUNTABILITY


Presenters:



About Our Session:

Assessment and accountability have long been in demand for library bibliographic instruction programs. Both were major goals in the evaluation of Berea College's bibliographic instruction program from 1989 to 1993. This session describes the five-year evaluative study of Berea's program and the methodologies employed: a pre-test and post-test, a faculty survey, focus group interviews, and bibliography evaluations. Descriptions of the focus group process and the involvement and training of library student workers as peer interviewers are emphasized. The development of a tool for use in evaluation of student bibliographies, as well as the mechanism for ensuring reader reliability and consistent application of criteria are also highlighted in the presentation. Challenges and problems encountered during the study, changes implemented in Berea's instruction program as a result of the study, incorporation of the evaluation results as part of the college's SACS report, as well as implications for future research are discussed.


A SELECT BIBLIOGRAPHY OF SOURCES USED IN PLANNING AND IMPLEMENTING THE STUDY


Beeler, Richard, ed. Evaluating Library Use Instruction . Ann Arbor, Michigan: Pierian Press, 1975.

Bolner, Mary, ed. Planning and Developing a Library Orientation Program . Ann Arbor, Michigan: Pierian Press, 1975.

Clark, Alice S., and Kay Jones, ed. Teaching Librarians to Teach . Metuchen, New Jersey: Scarecrow Press, 1986.

Evaluating Bibliographic Instruction: A Handbook . Chicago: Bibliographic Instruction Section, Association of College and Research Libraries, American Library Association, 1983.

Gordon, Raymond. Interviewing: Strategy, Techniques, and Tactics . Homewood, Illinois: Dorsey Press, 1969.

Gratch, Bonnie. "Toward a Methodology for Evaluating Research Paper Bibliographies," Research Strategies 3 (Fall 1985): 170-77.

Hardesty, Larry. Faculty and the Library: The Undergraduate Experience . Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing, 1991.

Hayes, Thomas J., and Carol B. Tatham. Focus Group Interviews: A Reader . Chicago: American Marketing Association, 1989.

Kirk, Thomas. "A Comparison of Two Methods of Library Instruction for Students in Introductory Biology," College & Research Libraries 32 (November 1971): 465-74.

Kohl, David F. and Lizabeth Wilson. "Effectiveness of Course-Integrated Bibliographic Instruction in Improving Coursework," RQ 26 (Winter 1986): 206-11.

Lubans, John, Jr., ed. Educating the Library User . New York: Bowker, 1974.

Merton, Robert K., Marjorie Fiske, and Patricia L. Kendall. The Focused Interview . 2nd ed. New York: Free Press, 1990.

"Model Statement of Objectives for Academic Bibliographic Instruction: Draft Revision." College & Research Library News 48 (May 1987): 256-61.

Payne, Stanley. The Art of Asking Questions . Princeton, New Jersey: Princeton University Press, 1951.

Powell, Rondald. Basic Research Methods for Librarians . Norwood, New Jersey: Ablex Publishing, 1985.

Tiefel, Virginia. "Evaluating a Library User Education Program: A Decade of Experience," College & Research Libraries 50 (March 1989): 249-59.

Werking, Richard Hume. "Evaluating Bibliographic Education: A Review and Critique," Library Trends 29 (Summer 1980): 153-72.

Widdows, Richard, Tia A. Hensler, and Marllaya H. Wyncott. "The Focus Group Interview: A Method for Assessing Users' Evaluation of Library Service." College & Research Libraries 52 (July 1991): 353-59.

Worthen, Blaine, and James Sanders. Educational Evaluation: Theory and Practice . Belmont, California: Wadsworth Publishing, 1973.


For further information about the study and/or copies of the survey instruments, contact the presenters at the above addresses, through e-mail, or access the www at URL: ../lib.html



"Measuring Up! Improving Instruction Through Evaluation: A Longitudinal Study of a Bibliographic Instruction Program," ALA 114th Annual Conference, June 25, 1995.



Susan_Henthorn@berea.edu
mroyse@utk.edu

Blue Line

Hutchins Library Bibliographic Instruction Program Evaluation Home Page
Hutchins Library Home Page | Berea College Home Page


Updated 3/23/01
Mail comments or questions to susan_henthorn@berea.edu