Principles and practice in impact assessment for academic libraries

PurposeThis paper aims to examine the principles that underpin library assessment, methods used for impact and performance evaluation and how academic libraries should use the findings, and it discusses how value frameworks help.Design/methodology/approachThis is a literature review covering aspects of value (value propositions, value co-creation), value frameworks (including the 2015 ACRL framework, Holbrook typology with worked example), data analytics and collaborative projects including LibQUAL+ initiatives and the use of balanced scorecard principles (including a values scorecard).FindingsThe use of data analytics in library assessment requires collaboration among library services to develop reliable data sets. Scorecards help ongoing impact and performance evaluation. Queries that arise may require a framework, or logic model, to formulate suitable questions and assemble evidence (qualitative and quantitative) to answer new questions about the value of library services. The perceived value framework of Holbrook’s typology, the values scorecard and the ACRL framework all support the deeper level of inquiry required.Research limitations/implicationsIncludes examples of possible application of frameworks.Practical implicationsA value framework might help data analytic approaches in combining qualitative and quantitative data.Social implicationsImpact assessment may require assessing how value is co-created with library users in use of e-resources and open data.Originality/valueThe study contrasts the varying approaches to impact evaluation and library assessment in academic libraries, and it examines more in-depth value framework