Johnson (2018) emphasises that collection evaluation is an ongoing process, outlining several quantitative and qualitative methods of collection analysis that can be used to evaluate school library collections. This list is helpful as it outlines use-based and user-based approaches, as well as collection-based approaches.
A combination of quantitative and qualitative dad collection methods is best, particularly when reporting to key stakeholders (such as leadership, school council, students, staff, or parents). These stakeholders might be seeking different kinds of information, to serve a variety of purposes (e.g. circulation data to justify spending, information about collection utilisation, feedback about collection appropriateness).
For example, school leadership might preference quantitative data such as circulation statistics, e-resources use statistics, in-house use statistics, cost per use as well as collection size and growth. This data could be used to justify library budgets or plans for collection expansion, as directed by user community needs. Numerical data, however, only shows part of the picture. As noted by Brown “it’s not enough to include numbers alone. The value lies in your interpretation of what the numbers represent” (2016, p. 22).
Moreover, qualitative methods, such as user opinion surveys (e.g. Google Forms or Survey Monkey), collection mapping or observation (what books are used/read/referred to in the Library but not necessarily loaned) could be used by school library staff to garner richer data about collection use. These methods, however, are more time-consuming and maybe not performed as regularly as some quantitative data collection, particularly methods that can be performed quickly using digital library software.
Other methods, such as list-checking (e.g. comparing to CBCA lists or selection aid recommendations) and collection mapping could be used to inform school staff about what is in the school library collection (and links to curriculum). Comparisons to other school libraries could also prove insightful.
References
Brown, D. (2016). Shine a light on your library. Incite, 37(3), 22-23.
Johnson, P. (2018). Fundamentals of collection development and management. American Library Association.
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