Evaluating School Library Facilities

The primary purpose of instructional supervision is to facilitate the learning of students by improving the conditions that affect it. Since sound planning for improvement requires an accurate appraisal of the strengths and limitations of existing instructional programs, evaluation is a major responsibility of the supervisor. The evaluation of school libraries has undergone marked changes in recent decades as a result of changes in educational measurement and evaluation. Formerly, appraisal considered only the material aspects of the library program and such elements as budget, holdings, and staff were compared with the standards of state and regional accrediting associations. Today, interest centers upon the effectiveness of the library's service, and attempts are made to judge the contribution of the library program to the personal development of the individual pupil. Appraisal of the adequacy of library facilities continues as a significant aspect of evaluation, however, because of the close relationship between this factor and service.published or submitted for publicatio