The Value of Outcome Measurement for Library Programs: An Overview of Project Outcome

January 21, 2016 ONLINE 01:00 PM
  Register

CLICK HERE for the archived webinar recording. 

Overview

PLA is partnering with the American Library Association (ALA) Public Programs Office to present this webinar designed to teach participants the value of measuring outcomes within library programs. This introductory webinar will provide an overview of outcome measurement and the Project Outcome tools, and is specifically aimed toward programming librarians interested in getting started using outcome measurement. Whether you are a programming librarian or in charge of programmatic decision-making at your library, it is important to understand the different ways to evaluate your programs. Learn how the PLA initiative Project Outcome provides new ways to collect data and how it relates to making program improvements, creating additional programs, and eliminating programs that are no longer meeting the needs of your community. Participants will see real-life examples of how measuring outcomes helped libraries gather better data to create better programs for their patrons.

Takeaways

At the conclusion of this webinar, participants will:

  • Be able to identify what an outcome is;
  • Know how to enroll in and use Project Outcome; and
  • Be able to apply their understanding of outcome measurement to their own programs.

Who Should Attend

This introductory webinar is open to everyone but will be most beneficial to programming librarians and library staff in charge of program decision-making who are interested in getting started using outcome measurement. Project Outcome is a free service provided by the Public Library Association. If you would like to enroll in Project Outcome in advance of the webinar, please do so at www.projectoutcome.org and view our How to Enroll in Project Outcome webinar for training.

Instructors

Emily Plagman is the project manager for PLA’s performance measurement initiative, Project Outcome, funded by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, overseeing its development and implementation. Prior to joining PLA, Emily worked as a project manager at the Chicago Metropolitan Agency for Planning, working on an ARRA grant to introduce new energy efficiency programming to the Chicagoland region. Emily received her Master’s in International Public Affairs from the LaFollette School of Public Affairs at the University of Wisconsin and her Bachelor’s in Political Science at Marquette University.