Powering Institutional Transformation: Equipping Librarians with Assessment Skills Through a Federally Funded Initiative

Abstract

Academic libraries are increasingly expected to demonstrate institutional impact, yet many librarians lack formal preparation in research design and applied assessment. Building on a previously funded initiative that developed these assessment instruments, this two-year nationally funded project advances the next phase: equipping librarians to implement the tools effectively within their institutions.

This poster will showcase practical strategies for implementing validated, freely available assessment tools examining undergraduate students' campus engagement, library use, self-regulated learning behaviors, and students' own definitions of success. The project team led a structured workshop series, engaging approximately 100 librarians from over 50 institutions nationwide in research design, ethical review processes, and assessment tools application. Currently, three selected institutions are implementing these tools locally to generate evidence aligned with student success and institutional priorities.

The project director will present the project framework, practical lessons learned, and strategies for fostering cross-campus collaboration and aligning library initiatives with institutional missions. The presenter also guides attendees to the validated, freely available assessment tools and the recorded workshop series, and explains how to adapt them to their institutional context. Institutions interested in adopting the tools may invite the project director to offer a tailored session on contextual adaptation and implementation planning.