Assessing and Evaluating Diversity in the Reference Department

Abstract

Evaluation and assessment of reference services, reference collections, and reference librarians at academic libraries is a concern shared by many. New methods and criteria are debated extensively in library literature. Rarely, however, has any attention been given to the concepts of diversity and multiculturalism when planning strategies for assessing and evaluating staff and collections. Perhaps with the advent of curriculum that supports pluralism and the changing demographics of many communities and campuses, the time has come to examine the commitment reference departments are willing to make to strengthen and diversify their staff and collections.