Measuring Library Impact at DBS

Abstract

Academic libraries need new methods of demonstrating their value to their institutions and their patrons. One potential method is to investigate a link between library usage and student attainment. This presentation describes some work undertaken in DBS library looking at the possible effect of a number of library usage criteria on the final exam grade achieved by final-year degree students. A correlation was found between final exam grade library borrowing, off-campus resource usage, printing from Moodle and final exam grade. In addition, mandatory attendance at a information skills class increased library borrowing and off-campus electronic resource usage. The result indicate that there may be a link between information literacy instruction and better exam results mediated by increased library awareness and library usage.