Measuring impact and outcomes is getting easier. Public librarians have an assortment of tools available to demonstrate the impact of library services in their communities. National initiatives like the Impact Study and PLA’s Project Outcome provide new standards and tools to measure library services.

Indicators like circulation or program attendance are valuable metrics. However, these are only indicators, a measure of volume rather than value. It’s important to align indicators with the desired goals and outcomes of a service to demonstrate its impact. Demonstrating impact is essential to the ongoing health of America’s public libraries. Measuring outcomes of library services helps to tell the story of why resources and funding are needed to sustain and grow existing services.

One nationally funded tool, the Impact Survey, was developed in 2009 to compile information for a study titled “Opportunity for All.” Researchers from the Technology & Social Change Group (TASCHA) and the U.S. Impact Study Research Group aimed to measure digital inclusion initiatives and their effects on public libraries across the country. In the six years since the study was initially conducted, the Impact Survey has shown some trends in responses from public library technology users. One key trend is that the majority of respondents have access to the Internet, but come to libraries to receive assistance from library staff or volunteers.

The Impact Survey has grown to become a standardized measurement tool for public libraries. It is now on its third iteration and offers many self-service tools that are easy to use. If you are looking use outcome measurement at your library, below are additional resources to investigate:

• Impact Survey: Tool to measure impact of public library technology services.
• PLA’s Project Outcome: Performance measurement tools for areas such as civic/community engagement, early childhood literacy, economic development, and job skills.
• Digital Inclusion Interactive Map : Comparison between American Community Census data and Digital Inclusion Survey results.
• Edge Initiative: Assessment tools to align services with growth and community priorities.

Tools like these help link goals with performance indicators. Through this comparison, public librarians can continually improve the services they offer. They can also take the next step of adjusting them to better fit local community needs.

Resources:

1. Samantha Becker et al., 2011. Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries. Washington, D.C.: Institute of Museum and Library Services. Accessed October 25, 2015.
2. Becker, Samantha. 2015. “Outcomes, Impacts and Indicators” Library Journal 140, no. 15: 26. Accessed October 25, 2015.
3. Becker, Samantha. 2015. Impact Survey: Measuring Your Library’s Impact. Accessed October 25, 2015.
4. Teasdale, Rebecca. 2015. Project Outcome Launch – Seven Surveys To Measure Impact. Accessed October 25, 2015.

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So, how did we get here and why do we feel like they are ready now? It was a process. If you had asked any of us what we thought the benchmarks would look like when we started, we probably have described something different than what we are unveiling today. Some things we knew for sure had to be included, like connection speeds, digital literacy training, and help with specific services. The way these benchmarks are presented now are pretty different from the first draft, though.  We collected a lot of feedback from you and your colleagues, made changes, and sent it out again to check our work to figure out how to talk about and measure key services. Through this feedback it became obvious that there were activities we hadn’t thought of that needed to be included.  We added benchmarks and indicators about assessing the value of public access technology in the community and we tied existing benchmarks to meeting community goals. The tool is now so much more than measuring what you do. It gets to the why what you do matters.

A lot of libraries provided feedback at different phases and different levels. Some reviewed the benchmarks and sent in comments. A lucky group took a test assessment to see how their library would fare.  Four libraries participated in an intensive pilot phase of assessing and presenting their results to their stakeholders. All of these libraries helped refine the benchmarks and were invaluable in getting us ready for today. The benchmarks have been poked, prodded, and tested so that all of you can see yourself in reflected in them.

Edge is a lot of moving parts and we are continuing to develop support materials at a furious pace. Today, all you need to do is take a look at the benchmarks. In the coming months, the Edge initiative will launch the online assessment in selected states. We will also provide libraries with a whole suite of tools to help you most effectively turn your library into an Edge library. These include Resource Guides, presentation templates, marketing material, and a PLA-designed training program. Some of these are meant to help you meet specific indicators. Others, like the PLA training, are designed to use Edge as an advocacy and planning tool.  But, these are still on the horizon. Watch this space for more information or sign up to join the Edge community.

This is a major milestone, but just the first of many. We are thrilled to be here and we never would have made it without your help and input. The whole Edge Initiative hopes that you will stick with us as we work towards our next target, and all the ones after that.

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