Library assessment

the long version

This SPEC survey was distributed to the 123 ARL member libraries in May 2007. Of those 123 libraries, 73 (60%) completed the survey. The survey results indicate that while a modest number of libraries engaged in assessment activities beyond annual ARL statistics gathering in the 1980s and earlier, the biggest jump in assessment activity occurred between 1990 and 2004. The overwhelming majority of responses indicate the impetus for assessment was service driven and user centered and came from within the library itself rather than from an outside source.