Continuous Improvement in the Face of Change Evaluating and Enhancing Library Webinars at an Online University
Continuous Improvement in the Face of Change Evaluating and Enhancing Library Webinars at an Online University
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Issue Date
2024-11
Authors
Bezet, Amanda
Ivins, Tammy
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Abstract
Our project had two specific goals. First, we wanted to minimize the cognitive load needed to understand the format and purposes of our webinars. In the wake of National University and Northcentral University's recent merger, our students were bombarded with a vast number of new resources and updated information. It was therefore essential that our library services (including webinars) were intuitive and easy to understand. Our second goal was to ensure an effective return on investment of librarian time by identifying both less-attended and highly popular webinars in the wake of an increased, post-merger student population. We conducted a quantitative analysis of webinar attendance data over the previous year. Data collection involved collating and correcting data from two Libcal systems, due to the recent merger of two library systems. Attendance data was then averaged and correlated with the audience, time of day, and day of the week. The results were then color-coded to support rapid interpretation of the results. The quantitative analysis was augmented with a qualitative assessment of librarian feedback and published literature to contextualize attendance data, interpret meaning, and extrapolate best practices. From our research, we generated a list of best practices for webinar titles, descriptions, branding, and tags. We also were able to identify several under-attended webinars suitable to be retired from their current live webinar format, as well as some highly popular webinars that should be offered more often. Through the internal assessment process, we also identified our webinars as an opportunity for continuous review and improvement.
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Keywords
library science , NU Library , assessment