Conduct+a+needs+assessment

Image retrieved from http://www.ocl.net/needs/one.html

Woolls (2008) suggests that one of the first tasks of the School Library Advisory Committee is to conduct a needs assessment. Needs assessment involves identifying needs, both large and small, and then planning courses of action, which are reviewed and prioritized. Erikson and Markuson add that "a needs assessment identifies essential characteristics of quality school library programs and measures how well the present program is performing in terms of those characteristics. This assessment enables you to determine changes needed to better meet the instructional requirements of students and teachers" (p. 11). One of the best books to assist in this process is //[|Achieving Information Literacy: Standards for School Library Programs in Canada (2003).]//

__**References:**__

Asselin, M., Branch, J. L., & Oberg, D. (Eds.). (2003). //Achieving information literacy: standards for school library programs in Canada//. Ottawa, Ontario: Canadian Association for School Libraries.

Erikson, E. & Markuson, C. B. (2007). //Designing a school library media center for the future//. Chicago, IL :American Library Association.

Southern Ontario Library Service (1992). //Focus on the future:// //Needs assessment and s////trategic planning for c////ounty and r////egional libraries:// //A how - to manual.// Retrieved from http://www.ocl.net/needs/one.html#oneone