Toward a Thoughtful Assessment Practice: Using Reflection to Guide Library Instruction Assessment

ABSTRACT The need to demonstrate the impact of academic libraries has fueled a culture of assessment within libraries, with librarians seeking to evaluate and improve a range of library services. This study seeks to both engage with that culture and to provide reflection on one assessment approach. Using feedback gathered from student evaluation assessments of one-shot library instruction sessions, the authors use a reflective practice and qualitative approach to discuss the assessment, its questions, and the responses received. The authors conclude with a series of reflection questions for librarians to ask themselves as they create and review student evaluation forms.