Financial Literacy in Public Libraries: A Report from ORE and the FINRA Investor Education Foundation

Friday, June 23
1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Location: McCormick Place, W194a

Does your public library promote personal finance capability? Financial capability is defined as “the capacity, based on knowledge, skills, and access, to manage financial resources prudently and effectively. Efforts to improve financial capability, which should be based on evidence of effectiveness, empower individuals to make informed choices, plan and set goals, avoid pitfalls, know where to seek help, and take other actions to better their present and long-term financial well-being. Attend this session to learn of recent research results about public libraries and their role in promoting personal finance capability. A Personal Finance Libguide for Public Libraries, created by ORE and hosted by the ALA Library, will be unveiled in this session. This project is funded in part by the FINRA Investor Education Foundation.

Measures that Matter: Creating a Public Library Data and Outcomes Action Plan

Saturday, June 24
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: McCormick Place, S106a

Attend this program to learn about the progress of Measures that Matter (MtM). The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA) are partnering to implement MtM, a project to examine, evaluate, and map the landscape of public library data collection in the United States. The project will develop a Library Data and Outcomes Action Plan with key library stakeholder groups for a more coordinated approach to the collection of public library data nationally. Thousands of public libraries diligently contribute to data collection efforts each year. While the value of data collection to measure library impact is broadly recognized, concerns have emerged about the proliferation of surveys in recent years. There is a lack of coordination between collecting organizations, resulting in a greater burden for local libraries, duplication of efforts, and uncertainty about the sustainability and long-term access to data. Measures that Matter is a first step aimed at building bridges between data collection activities of various organizations. It will engage broadly with the library field and promote a greater understanding of the issues related to library data. And it will help ensure that data collected reflects the 21st century library. MtM was made possible in part by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (RE-00-16-0181-16).

BUY-IN NOT OPT-OUT: How Public Libraries Can Create a Culture for Staff-Driven Metrics

Monday, June 26
10:30 AM – 11:30 AM
Location: McCormick Place, W176b

Is staff in your library reluctant to participate in the measurement of institutional performance? Do they seem confused by the logic model and struggle to apply it to their work? Would you like Senior Staff to make data-driven decisions? Learn a method for engaging staff at all levels of the organization in program evaluation. Improve staff analytical skills and help the entire organization, including your Board of Trustees, focus on institutional strategy. Be introduced to a performance measuring system that works.