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Assessment Librarianship Pathway

Students Studying in the Library

Assessment Librarians help their institutions determine how well they are meeting users’ needs and fulfilling stated goals. Assessment librarians are often involved in communicating their libraries’ achievements on both formal and informal bases. They regularly generate, collect, and analyze quantitative and qualitative data, and develop channels and products to share that data with internal and external audiences. While many information professionals in all types of settings are likely to engage in assessment-related activities as part of their jobs, Assessment Librarians are more likely to work in academic libraries than in other environments.

Assessment Librarianship Job Titles

Most positions in this area are titled “Assessment Librarian,” but there are few others related to this area of the profession. These include:

  • User Experience Librarian
  • Librarian for Instructional Design and Assessment
  • Assessment Specialist

Preparing to Enter the Professional World of Assessment Librarianship:

Professional Development:

Associations:

  • Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Statistics & Assessment Focus Area
  • Association of College & Research Libraries (ACRL)
  • User Experience Professionals Association (UXPA)

Conferences:

  • ARL Library Assessment Conference (Biannual)
  • Qualitative and Quantitative Methods in Libraries (QQML)
  • International Evidence Based Library and Information Practice Conference (EBLIP)
  • American Library Association (ALA) Library Leadership and Management Association (LLAMA) Conference | Assessment Section
  • Northumbria International Conference on Performance Measurement in Library and Information Services (Biannual)

Publications of Note:

  • College and Research Libraries
  • Evidence Based Library and Information Practice (EBLIP)
  • Performance Measurement and Metrics
  • portal: Libraries and the Academy
  • The Journal of Academic Librarianship
  • The Journal of Library Administration
  • UX Magazine

Recommended Courses:

In addition to completing the courses required for the MSIS degree, students with an interest in assessmentlibrarianship might consider enrolling in some of these courses (please note that this listing is not a substitute for consulting with the MSIS Program Advisor).

SIS Courses

  • INSC 504 Research Methods for Information Professionals
  • INSC 552 Academic Libraries
  • INSC 558 Planning & Assessment
  • INSC 586 Usability Testing and Evaluation
  • INSC 588 Human-Computer Interaction
  • INSC 592 Introduction to Data Analytics and Visualization
  • INSC 599 Practicum

Other Assessment-related courses at UTK(please note—students typically must secure permission from the course instructor prior to registering for courses offered outside CCI. These courses also may be offered on campus only)

  • EDPY 577 Statistics in Applied Fields
  • IELPS 615 Research Design
  • ELPS 617 Case Study Methods in Educational Research

Recommended Online Training & Workshops

  • UTK OIT Workshops:
    • Advanced Excel 2 & 3
    • PowerPoint Advanced Techniques
    • NVivo
    • QuestionPro
    • SPSS
  • LinkedIn Learning Online Training Playlists:
    • Time Management
    • Project Management
    • Assessment
    • UX Research
    • UX Design
    • Communication

Real-World Experience:

Potential Practicum Settings:

  • Academic and Public Libraries

Recent Placements of UTK-SIS Alumni:

  • University of Tennessee Libraries
  • University of Wyoming Libraries
  • North Carolina State University Libraries
  • Auburn University Libraries

Professional Certifications in User Experience
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