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A study of output measures for evaluating the performance of California community college learning resources programs

Problem. Traditional measures for library and learning resources programs based on standards which identify input alone are no longer considered effective for evaluating a program or justifying its needs. No output measures for comprehensive learning resources programs in California existed.
Purpose. The purpose was to develop output measures for comprehensive learning resources programs. Additionally, learning resources and library administrators were surveyed regarding the following: whether they would use the output measures, how they would use them, and whether there was a need for the adoption of statewide standards.
Procedures. Thirteen output measures previously identified and pilot tested by library and learning resources program administrators were revised into 12 output measures based on the results of the pilot test. Two groups of 24 colleges each were randomly selected to participate in the survey. The revised output measures and survey were sent to the two groups for response. Thirty-nine college administrators returned the survey. The data were tabulated and analyzed electronically using descriptive and inferential statistics.
Findings. The usefulness and clarity of the output measures manual were validated by this study. The data indicate that 78% of community college learning resources program administrators will use all or some of the output measures to evaluate their programs. The data indicate that in-house or within institution use of data is more valuable than for comparing across libraries. Program administrators agree strongly that the State needs to adopt minimum standards for learning resources programs.
Recommendations. (1) The output measures manual for California Community College Library and Learning Resources Programs be adopted by the California Community College Chancellor's office for the voluntary evaluation of learning resources programs in California. (2) That as program based funding is fully implemented in California Community Colleges, research should be conducted, using the output measures, to determine if improved funding of learning resources programs at the state level leads to more effective services at the local level. (3) That the Board of Governors of the California Community Colleges adopt the ALA (1990) standards for learning resources programs.

Identiferoai:union.ndltd.org:pacific.edu/oai:scholarlycommons.pacific.edu:uop_etds-3933
Date01 January 1991
CreatorsClarke, Tobin De Leon
PublisherScholarly Commons
Source SetsUniversity of the Pacific
Detected LanguageEnglish
Typetext
Formatapplication/pdf
SourceUniversity of the Pacific Theses and Dissertations

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