Library Assessment
About Library Assessment
As the needs of library users constantly evolve, the School of Theology Library is committed to constant evaluation, reflection, and improvement via data-driven decision making. Using a variety of quantitative and qualitative approaches, the library seeks to collect data with the goal of monitoring the impact of and efficiently improving the library’s services, space, collections, and footprint. Based on this program, the library has made significant and successful adjustments to our footprint, hours of operation, staffing, and collections.
Libraries at BU: Triennial Surveys
The BU libraries-wide Assessment Committee, among other projects, launches triennial surveys sent to the entire undergraduate, graduate, and faculty populations of Boston University. Previous published reports from this committee are available in the link above.
2019 Library Survey Report
In the spring of 2019, the Boston University libraries surveyed BU faculty, graduate students, and undergraduates on their use and satisfaction with library services and resources across the BU campuses. It includes survey findings about the libraries’ spaces, scholarly resources, services and staff, teaching and learning, and data management and open access. 26% of School of Theology students and 26% of School of Theology faculty responded to the survey. A public report prepared by the libraries’ Assessment Committee is forthcoming. The survey instruments are currently available via OpenBU. Our Internal Library Assessment page contains an analysis of School of Theology student and faculty responses to the 2019 survey. On the whole, School of Theology student respondents were overwhelmingly satisfied with the library, staff, and its services, and the library is a vital part of School of Theology student experience and student success. Please contact sthref@bu.edu for the password to view the Internal Library Assessment page.
2016 Library Survey Report
In the spring of 2016, the libraries at Boston University surveyed BU faculty, graduate students, and undergraduate students to determine use and satisfaction with library services and resources. The report based on this survey is available via OpenBU. Approximately 10% of BU faculty and 13% of BU graduate students responded to this survey; 42% of School of Theology faculty and 27% of School of Theology students responded to the survey. The university-wide report, survey instruments, and cleaned datasets for all populations are available via OpenBU.
Data Dashboards
The School of Theology Library keeps running counts of overall library visitors, patrons and questions answered by time of day, loans of physical materials, questions answered by staff, and patron usage by sections of the library. This dashboard is on our Internal Library Assessment page. The library seeks to make data-informed decisions to guide decisions on aspects like library footprint, staffing, hours of operation, and other library services. Please contact sthref@bu.edu for the password to view the Internal Library Assessment page.