Part G

Evaluation and impact  

Evaluation is a fundamental and important component of delivering library services and a crucial part of the planning process. It is iterative and starts with strategy and planning. As an ongoing practice it requires an investment of time and money. Evaluation can provide a tool for improving programmes and services and inform policy decisions if the appropriate evidence is collected and analysed. It needs to be linked to pre-determined goals and outcomes. The evaluation of children’s library services and programmes can help to determine if these are meeting the needs of children in the local community. The library should already have a mission statement, in line with vision and values, when the evaluation process begins. It is beneficial to develop an evaluation plan which should outline the goals, the research questions and type of information and evidence to be gathered. 

User studies and library research on needs and behaviour can be used in different phases of the library and information process cycle. The first step is to identify what is to be achieved and it is important to decide what is valued as evidence and why. Both qualitative and quantitative measures should be used to determine the success of children’s programmes and services.

The IFLA Global Vision Report Summary states that libraries have an opportunity to understand community needs better and design services for impact. Libraries need to ensure their stakeholders and communities understand the value and impact of children’s services. Impact evaluation can be undertaken on a programme or a policy and provide information about the impacts produced by an intervention. The focus in this type of evaluation is on outcomes, or the effect of the services and programmes on children and communities. There are a number of international standards relating to library and information settings. The ISO 16439:2014 Methods and procedures for assessing the impact of libraries provides guidance to the library community on methods for assessing the impact and value of libraries. It was developed in response to worldwide demand for specifications of library impact assessment. 

There are some practical questions to be considered in developing an evaluation plan for a children’s library programme: 

  • What will be evaluated?
  • What types of evidence are needed?
  • What is the best time to carry out the evaluation?
  • What criteria will be used to judge programme performance?
  • What standards of performance on the criteria must be reached for the programme to be considered successful?
  • If comparisons are to be made over a period of time, how easy is it to replicate the process?
  • What conclusions about programme performance are justified based on the available evidence?
  • How will the findings be acted on to implement change?

The IFLA Libraries and the Sustainable Development Goals: a storytelling manual is a guide for librarians and library advocates to support advocacy efforts.  This manual provides digital space to share the story of the children’s library activities, projects, and programmes as well as their impact on the local community, and how that contributes to the United Nations (UN) Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).