DLC: Public Access Assessments, 4/1 p.m.
Posted by Valerie on April 2, 2008
Kathy Brazee (KB) [slides] [handout]
Public Access Assessments program focuses on public access requirements and is outcomes-based.
- includes focus on access, collections, and service
- can request a PAA – form under outreach & education on fdlp.gov
have hired a 2nd paa librarian at gpo
coming soon:
- paa chapter in fdlp handbook
- checklist corresponding to focus on access, collections, services
- will be used to review depositories; form will be available as part of paa documentation [does this mean that we'll get a chance to see it too?]
- there will be an online public feedback form. [for the general public - link from your web site. library use will be voluntary (at first?)]
- an update of the self-study [won't be required; will be a self-assessment resource]
test of paa processes in summer
scheduled assessments in winter 2009
- will be looking at ‘troubling’ responses from biennial survey, some libraries have volunteered
initial review process:
- review of biennial survey submission and web site
results:
report of satisfactory review provided to library; follow-up is needed; library requests onsite public access assessment
follow-up review:
- dep coordinator will be called;
- developing a checklist for regional librarians to take when visiting a library
possible results:
- review is satisfactory and report provided to library
follow-up is needed and library requested to take action and report back within a specific time frame
- follow -up is needed and onside paa is scheduled
- library requests paa
final review: onsite visit:
- satisfactory; report provided
[see slide]
paa scenarios: public access best practices
question #1: for each scenario, how would you address these situations to deliver free public access?
q #2: what are some barriers to implementation and how would you overcome these to provide for or enhance free public access?
scenario 1:
fdl has highly visible ‘real estate’ for dep. public svcs w/in the bldg and on the web site
a #2: barriers: library/docs person does not control what goes on web sites [steph braunstein]
michele mck: we’re moving away from web pages and towards federated searching; using info in particular subject categories, not necessarily gov’t info
arlene weible: potential barriers to a scenario like michele is the extent to which academic libraries put their information behind passwords/firewalls.
scenario 2: [see slide]
barriers: ensuring that all employees know what access policies are. ppl referring gov’t docs users specifically to docs folks [when they're not there all of the time]
overcome: make sure that policies are current and on web site/publicly available. better training re: depository issues. depository people needs to flatten out issues where possible.
paa is not an assessment of the depository coordinator, it’s an assessment of the library
