1 / 50

Data: The Key Ingredient in a Successful Project

Utilize data for successful project management, evaluation, and advocacy. Learn to assess community needs, manage and improve projects, evaluate impact, and market effectively. This comprehensive guide explains the process of needs assessment and provides tools for effective data collection and analysis.

stesha
Download Presentation

Data: The Key Ingredient in a Successful Project

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. Data: The Key Ingredient in a Successful Project ILEAD USA, March 28, 2013

  2. Use data to… • Assess community needs • Manage and continuously improve your project • Evaluate your project’s impact • Market and advocate

  3. Colorado’s BTOP Project

  4. 88 Public Computer Centers

  5. Needs Assessment

  6. Needs Assessment Needs assessment “is a systematic process of collecting, organizing, and analyzing data about the library and its environment. It is designed to assist the administrator in choosing from alternative patterns of satisfying [patrons’] information needs and interests.” -Grover, Greer, & Agada (2010)

  7. Needs Assessment • Problem statement • How do you know there’s a problem? • What data and other information do you have to support your premise? “If you can quantify the issue, it will strengthen your proposal.” -Jane Martel

  8. Why do it? • To better meet patrons’ needs and interests • To meet reporting requirements

  9. How do we do it? • Original Research -Surveys -Qualitative Techniques (interviews, etc.) • Available Data

  10. Available Data Sources

  11. LRS.orgResources

  12. Census

  13. American Community Survey

  14. Census/ACS Support

  15. State Demographer

  16. Internal Statistics

  17. Project-Related Research

  18. BTOP Needs Assessment • Income • Education level • English language status

  19. Project Management & Evaluation

  20. Data Collection Timeline Collect early and collect often!

  21. What data should be collected? • Inputs • Outputs • Outcomes • SMART objectives: what is measurable?

  22. Inputs Quantify the effort expended on a project—resources and time

  23. Examples of Input Measures • Funds/in-kind funds expended • Number of project staff • Staff time • Library hours

  24. BTOP Input Measures • Grant/matching funds • Computer center hours • Staff hours

  25. Outputs Quantifying the levels of services and materials provided

  26. Examples of Output Measures • Circulation • Visits • Number of Programs • Attendees at library programs • Website visits

  27. BTOP Output Measures • Number of classes offered • Hours of class time • Number of class attendees • Number of one-on-one trainings • Number of open access computer users • Hours of open access usage

  28. Outcome Measures Documenting the effect a service has on the participants

  29. Examples of Outcome Measures • Created a resume • Improved reading skills • Traced family history • Got a job interview

  30. Examples of BTOP Outcome Measures—Computer Classes After taking today’s class, I am better able to… • use a computer. • use the Internet. • create or edit a website. • view and/or share digital photos. • use software (ex: Word, Google Docs, Photoshop, Excel, Quickbooks)

  31. Examples of BTOP Outcome Measures—Open Access Users While I was on a computer in the computer center today, I • looked for employment. • used software (ex: Google Docs, Excel, Word, Photoshop). • communicated with someone (ex: email, chat, Facebook). • did schoolwork.

  32. Data Use for Project Management • Who is the customer and what does she need/want? • User profiles—implications for staffing and programming • One-on-one trainings • Class attendee demographics

  33. BTOP Project Evaluation

  34. Power of Story

  35. Tools for Collecting Data

  36. Data Map

  37. BTOP Reporting Tool

  38. Data Burden

  39. Thank You! Linda Hofschire, Hofschire_L@cde.state.co.us Dave Hodgins, Hodgins_D@cde.state.co.us www.lrs.org @lrs_co

  40. Resources

  41. Needs Assessment Resources • Examples of library needs assessment studies: http://americanlibrariesmagazine.org/features/06132012/community-reference-making-libraries-indispensable-new-way • http://www.rplf.org/download/Richmond_Needs_Doc_090216_sm.pdf • Conducting surveys • http://www.lrs.org/resources/research-methods/#Surveys • Survey alternatives (interviews, card sorts, diaries, etc.) • http://www.lrs.org/beyond-the-survey-innovative-techniques-for-learning-about-your-patrons-calcon-2011/

  42. Needs Assessment Resources • LRS.org Needs Assessment Resources http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/public-libraries/resources-for-community-analysis/ • Census http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html • American Community Survey http://www.census.gov/acs/www/ • State Demographer http://www.colorado.gov/cs/Satellite/DOLA-Main/CBON/1251590805419 • Internal Statistics: • Public Libraries http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/public-libraries/ • School Libraries http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/school-libraries/ • Academic Libraries http://www.lrs.org/data-tools/academic-libraries/

  43. Additional Resources • Grover, R.J., Greer, R.C., & Agada, J. (2010). Assessing information needs: Managing transformative library services. Denver, CO: Libraries Unlimited. • Orcutt, D. (Ed.) (2010). Library data: Empowering practice and persuasion. Denver, CO: Libraries Unlimited.

More Related