The Small to Mid-Size Academic Library: Assessment

Call for Proposals

Editors

Camille Abdeljawad, Assistant Professor & Instruction & Outreach Librarian, Park University

Danielle Theiss, Assistant Professor & Director of Library, Academic, and Career Success Services, Park University 

Publisher

Association of College & Research Libraries
 

We are excited to invite innovative, creative, and practical chapter proposals for our upcoming publication, Assessment: The Small to Mid-Size Academic Library Series from ACRL with an anticipated publication date of Spring 2026. Visit the publication's website for additional information and to submit your proposal by March 15, 2024.
 

Introduction

Assessment: The Small to Mid-Size Academic Library Series consists of three sections highlighting the importance and relevance of small to mid-sized academic libraries assessing their library programs, services, and offerings. While many volumes have been published about academic library assessment, these often showcase libraries with extensive staff, budgets, and materials available to them. As librarians from small-mid-size institutions, we want to provide a volume aimed specifically at libraries found in ACRL’s College Libraries Section (CLS), as they often operate with minimal library staff and smaller budgets, without dedicated staffing, time, equipment, or software for assessment. Readers will take away practical examples of ways to assess programming, services, and resources that are suitable for their institution size. They will also be challenged to explore how these methods could be recreated at their own institution. 
 

Target Audience

The editors are seeking case study submissions from new to veteran library professionals currently working (or previously worked) at small-mid-size institutions. We also welcome submissions with collaborations from other higher education disciplines and/or departments. 
 

Objective and Focus

The purpose of this volume is to support small to mid-size institutions with limited staffing and/or budgets by showcasing creative approaches to library assessment.
 

Book Sections

The volume consists of three sections highlighting 6-10 case studies within each segment with a focus on library assessment. The first section’s case studies will focus on library instruction, outreach, and reference services. The second section will focus on assessing resources and collections. And the final section will discuss creative approaches to assess emerging technologies in the academic library environment.
 

Chapter Format

Each case study will ask authors to tell their institutional story and discuss the role assessment plays in identifying success and determining impact. Each chapter will be written as a case study and will showcase a specific instance of implementing or trying an assessment process or procedure.
 

Submit your proposal

Proposals should include: 1) the names and contact information for all authors; 2) a clear description of the case study you are proposing and how it aligns with and advances your library’s assessment practices

For more information and to submit your proposal, please see the volume’s website.

Proposals are due March 15, 2024.
For questions, please contact the editors at: smallmidlibraryseries@gmail.com

Submit your Proposal!