Program Evaluation
Resources
PDF linking to evaluation tools and tips DOWNLOAD .PDF
This resource provides links to easy evaluation tools and resources designed for library business
LBB: EVALUATING YOUR BUSINESS PROGRAMS
/ 1
Monitoring and evaluation of your library programs is critical to success and
sustaining your initiative. Not only does data and feedback about your programs
help you to continuously improve programs and adapt to the needs of your
community, it also enables you to showcase your impact.
Use our
Libraries Build Business Monitoring and Evaluation Resource Guide (above)
to consider strategies for effectively evaluating your programs and receiving essential feedback from the
community. The resource guide shares information about using
PLA’s
Project Outcome (left) to create
customized surveys for your small business
programs as well as the Libraries Build
Business initiative’s survey, interview and
focus group instruments and protocols.
Read the
Topsham Public Library Case Study
(right) to learn more about the role of
monitoring and evaluation in your library’s
business programs.
Evaluation from a variety of perspectives is critical, and you can use interviews,
surveys, and focus groups to gather community input—including from local small businesses, community
partners and small business support organizations,
opportunity for feedback is a vital component of effective
communication and outreach and opens the door for
building long-term relationships and investment. Use
the LBB Interview and Protocols documents for
Elected
Ocials
, Small Businesses, and Library Focus Groups (left)
as a template for these conversations.
Libraries
Build
Business
Evaluating Your
Business Programs
Tell a story with impact data and feedback from participants
Projectoutcome.org website
LBB C AS E STU DY: U SI NG EV ALU ATI ON TO OL S TO ST RE NGT HE N YOU R LI BRA RY S MA LL BU SI NE SS PR OG RA M
1
LIB RAR IES BU ILD
BUS INE SS IN
MID COA ST M AIN E
Situated in the heart of predominantly rural
Topsham, Maine, the Topsham Public Library is
an integral part of the community, supporting
access and connectivity for
residents. Its mission is to be “a
community center for all ages.”
As you arrive in Topsham, a
community of roughly 7,000
people located between Portland
and Augusta, you are greeted by
the Androscoggin River and a
small downtown area. Beyond
the town center, broadband access quickly drops
off in the more rural parts of Topsham.
The Topsham Public Library has been
actively involved in supporting small businesses,
entrepreneurs, and jobseekers since before the
Brunswick Naval Air Station, a large employer
in the area, closed in 2005. When Susan M.
Preece, Topsham’s Library Director, moved into
her position shortly after the Naval Air Station
closed, she set out to support the community
with needed career and entrepreneurship
support. Building from there, in 2020, Topsham
was awarded a Libraries Build Business (LBB)
grant from the American Library Association to
advance their work supporting small businesses
and entrepreneurs and developing
the Employment and Business
Entrepreneur Center at the library.
The Topsham Public Library
Employment and Business
Entrepreneur Center provides a
comprehensive and coordinated
series of programs, drop-ins,
informational opportunities, and
collection enhancements in collaboration with
partners, including the Maine CareerCenters, New
Ventures Maine, the Southern Midcoast Chamber of
Commerce, and Topsham Economic Development.
Topsham Public Library provides access to
technology and the Internet to the community,
including low-income and rural patrons, trying to
evolve and grow its small businesses. “Partnering
L i b r a r i e s
B u il d
B u s i n es s
CA SE S TU DY: T OP SH AM P UB LI C LI BR AR Y
Using Evaluation Tools to Strengthen
Your Library Small Business Program
“Partnering with
experts and
connecting people is
what libraries do.”
—Susan M. Preece, Director,
Topsham Public Library
Appendix C: LBB Monitoring and Evaluation Instruments / 68
M&E Resource 3: Small Business Interview
This interview is also available online as a Google doc.
SECTION I: INTRODUCTIONS/ WARM UP
Moderator notes:
●
The “why” is an essenal part of everything we are learning. When asking follow-up quesons, as
oen as possible, push for the “why” behind each answer
●
Probe to understand any core values, assumpons, biases, or inuences (cultural and other) that
contribute to the way the entrepreneur discusses the topics
●
If a topic from a queson or probing queson has already been discussed before the queson was
asked, move onto a dierent queson or probing queson—do not ask quesons that have already
been answered
●
You likely will not be able to ask all the quesons in this interview. This is both okay and expected.
Please do not rush through the quesons—allow me for the entrepreneur to provide quality
responses
●
You may go “o script” if other quesons arise based on the entrepreneur’s responses
Introducon:
● Moderator provides a brief introducon of him or herself
●
Moderator emphasizes that all responses are appreciated and needed. There are no right or wrong
answers
●
The parcipant will be audio recorded during this interview for tracking purposes. Someone will be
taking notes during the discussion, but may need to use the recording to collect verbam quotes
Ground Rules for the Parcipant:
● Enjoy yourself
● Please be open and honest (no consequences)
● Help me: Are there things I should be asking or things you would like to tell me?
● When you have a comment or queson please speak up so I can hear you
● Always pay aenon:
o Please put away your cell phone
o Avoid any distracons unl the interview ends
Appendix C: LBB Monitoring and Evaluation Instruments / 71
M&E Resource 4: Elected Ocials Interview
This interview is also available online as a Google doc.
SECTION I: INTRODUCTIONS/ WARM UP
Moderator notes:
●
The “why” is an essenal part of everything we are learning. When asking follow-up quesons, as
oen as possible, push for the “why” behind each answer
●
Probe to understand any core values, assumpons, biases, or inuences (cultural and other) that
contribute to the way the elected ocial discusses the topics
●
If a topic from a queson or probing queson has already been discussed before the queson was
asked, move onto a dierent queson or probing queson—do not ask quesons that have already
been answered
●
You likely will not be able to ask all the quesons in this interview. This is both okay and expected.
Please do not rush through the quesons—allow me for the elected ocial to provide quality
responses
●
You may go “o script” if other quesons arise based on the elected ocial’s responses
Introducon:
● Moderator provides a brief introducon of him or herself
●
Moderator emphasizes that all responses are appreciated and needed. There are no right or wrong
answers
●
The parcipant will be audio recorded during this interview for tracking purposes. Someone will be
taking notes during the discussion, but may need to use the recording to collect verbam quotes
Ground Rules for the Elected Ocial:
● Enjoy yourself
● Please be open and honest (no consequences)
● Help me: Are there things I should be asking or things you would like to tell me?
● When you have a comment or queson please speak up so I can hear you
● Always pay aenon:
o Please put away your cell phone
o Avoid any distracons unl the interview ends
Appendix C: LBB Monitoring and Evaluation Instruments / 79
M&E Resource 7: Library Focus Group
This interview is also available online as a Google doc.
SECTION I: INTRODUCTIONS/ WARM UP
Moderator notes:
●
The “why” is an essenal part of everything we are learning. When asking follow-up quesons, as
oen as possible, push for the “why” behind each answer
●
Probe to understand any core values, assumpons, biases, or inuences (cultural and other) that
contribute to the way libraries discuss the topics
●
If a topic from a queson or probing queson has already been discussed by the libraries before the
queson was asked, move onto a dierent queson or probing queson—do not ask quesons that
have already been answered
●
You likely will not be able to ask all the quesons in this focus group. This is both okay and expected.
Please do not rush through the quesons—allow me for libraries to provide quality responses
●
You may go “o script” if other quesons arise based on the elected ocial’s responses
Introducon:
● Moderator provides a brief introducon of him or herself
●
Moderator emphasizes that all responses are appreciated and needed. There are no right or wrong
answers, and parcipants should speak up even if they feel they are the only person in the room
with a certain opinion/percepon
●
Parcipants will be audio recorded during this focus group for tracking purposes. Someone will be
taking notes during the discussion, but may need to use the recording to collect verbam quotes
● Moderator goes around the room and has each library introduce themselves (i.e. individual’s name
and name of aliated library)
Ground Rules for Libraries:
● Enjoy yourself
● Please be open and honest (no consequences)
● Feel free to disagree with others
● Help me: Are there things I should be asking or things you would like to tell me?
● When you have a comment or queson please speak up so I can hear you
● Please respect each other’s comments and let each other nish speaking prior to adding your
own comments.
● Always pay aenon:
o Please put away your cell phones
o Avoid any distracons unl the focus group ends
Resource Guide
PDF DOWNLOAD
Case Study
PDF DOWNLOAD
Interview and Protocols documents
GOOGLE DOC DOWNLOADS
Section 4: Library Sta
LIBRARIES BUILD BUSINESS COMMUNICATIONS TOOLKIT / AMERICAN LIBRARY ASSOCIATION
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