Date: Fri, 7 Jul 2017 20:40:14 +0000
To: "acqnet_at_lists.ala.org" <acqnet_at_lists.ala.org>
Stacey, We've done updates of workflow documentation and we've done something I will call a "workflow study" using flow chart software and having everyone map their workflows for certain tasks. It allowed us to see, for example, that someone was doing something in the ACQ check-in process that was really a cataloging function that the cataloging coordinator would rather she not do. I was also able to see the differences in the way our two buyers approach the purchase of monographs. I didn't ask either of them to change their workflows because both processes are valid, but it did allow the two buyers to compare notes and identify some issues they had. Before a site visit with ACRL consultants (who were great, btw), we looked at the time (number of days) it took a book to be checked in and sent to the shelf (but that included our cataloging unit). One of the recommendations from the consultants was to go in the direction of shelf-ready materials with our main vendor to bring the number of “touches on the book” down and I have wanted to look at that for a while, but it is a very threatening prospect because it would require outsourcing of some cataloging, which opens up a whole can of worms. I have also done a scan of ACQ unit documentation on other campuses where I can access them through Libguides and other publicly available library sites. Hope this is helpful. You can contact me directly if you like with any questions about specifics. CHERIE WATSON Acquisitions Librarian LIBRARY AFFAIRS MORRIS LIBRARY – MAIL CODE 6632 SOUTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY 605 AGRICULTURE DRIVE CARBONDALE, ILLINOIS 62901 cwatson_at_lib.siu.edu<mailto:cwatson_at_lib.siu.edu> P: 618/453-4305 F: 618/453-3452 LIB.SIU.EDU [SIU_email_2line] From: acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org [mailto:acqnet-request_at_lists.ala.org] On Behalf Of Stacey Marien Sent: Friday, July 07, 2017 3:14 PM To: acqnet_at_lists.ala.org Subject: [ALCTS-acqnet] Follow up to Assessment in Acq question Hello All thanks to those of you who have responded. So far, the assessment examples I've gotten have been to assess the usage of resources. Here is the backstory - I am writing a chapter on assessment in Acq. The book is going to have another chapter on Assessment in Electronic Resources So I am trying to define what Assessment in Acquisitions actually means. I know some Acq departments do soup to nuts and others, like mine, are only responsible for the purchase of print and some electronic (not databases). So what should be assessed? Workflows? Staff output? Is it the responsibility of the Acq department to assess the programs it administers, like an approval plan? Or is that the job of the collection development people? I'm having a hard time trying to define what would be assessed in an Acquisitions department. A few years ago, I created a libguide to organize all our workflows in my unit. In the course of doing that, all the workflows were reviewed. I consider that an assessment. We have a homegrown product that we use to keep track of media and reserves ordering - we tweaked it and while doing that, got everyone in the same room who had anything to do with media and reserves and went over the path of an item - so everyone in every unit, understood what we were all doing. I consider that an assessment. So I am looking to see what others think assessment in an acquisitions department might entail Stacey Stacey Marien Acquisitions Librarian American University Library 4400 Massachusetts Ave, NW Washington, DC 20016 smarien_at_american.edu<mailto:smarien_at_american.edu> 202-885-3842<tel:202-885-3842> orcid.org/0000-0003-2608-4559<https://urldefense.proofpoint.com/v2/url?u=http-3A__orcid.org_0000-2D0003-2D2608-2D4559&d=DwMFaQ&c=jrLYy3FV6j9HoN3FfGW-SLJoSRpiMyAzztY4B1tagEk&r=wZSif1jE5x0To_DWF5L639aGGV4CNem_pec1d8gO2n8&m=sViNYIYYIUiANA9TqEAxb2ObEj--sKqyTaK1AScrcxY&s=e3__u_NcWK2CG2iKRajXiomP3FZlECqrrA7_Z3keSdA&e=>
