Evaluating Program Success in a World Gone Virtual
How does program success in a virtual world differ from in-person programs and events? In this webinar, we explore how to collect compelling program data and feedback in a virtual environment.
With COVID-19, libraries quickly pivoted to move their programs and events online. The early months were about figuring out "the how" and getting new routines in place; now it is time to find meaningful ways to evaluate and assess the success of what we are offering.
Just counting attendance will never tell a holistic story of whether a program succeeded or failed. There is so much more data that we can collect to tell a complete story about library programming to funders and board members, to prepare to apply for grants, and to plan for the future.
How does program success in a virtual world differ from in-person programs and events? What data should we collect? How do we get feedback? Join Janie Hermann of Princeton (N.J.) Public Library to learn how to use data to tell a story, drive decisions about future programming, and so much more.
Learning Outcomes
Participants will:
- Be introduced to several tools and methods that can be used to evaluate programs
- Gain a better understanding of what types of data can be collected to drive future programming decisions
- Learn how to make statistics and data tell a compelling story that will impress funders and assist with grant writing
Resources
Janie Hermann, in her role as Manager of Adult Programming at the Princeton Public Library, oversees the more than 2,000 public programs put together annually by the amazing team with whom she is privileged to work. Her work at the library allows her to interact with a wide variety of local groups and organizations, and she is dedicated to ensuring the public programs offered at the library not only meet but also exceed the expectations of the Princeton community. She was named a Library Journal Mover and Shaker in 2007, has served on the New Jersey State Library’s Blue Ribbon Task Force on the Future of Libraries, and is involved in many capacities with ALA, most notably as the chair of the Programming Librarian Interest Group. As a teacher, librarian, wife and mother, Janie has learned that minute details can have a big impact, and that planning is crucial, but you still should leave room for some spontaneous actions.
