LIANZA is delighted to offer the library sector an opportunity to gain confidence and capability in evaluation research and telling the story of New Zealand libraries.
This initiative is supported by the NZ Libraries Partnership Programme
Libraries collect membership, issues and other data, but may be less confident in collecting evidence and using it to tell the story of their impact. This evaluation and impact initiative aims to support participants to work out what exactly needs to be monitored, how to measure what matters and ways to communicate effectively about the impact your library makes in your community. Rather than taking a ‘build it and they will come’ approach, evaluation and research will enable libraries and GLAM institutions to understand the wants, needs and motivations of your users and potential users, and to work out where’s best spend your time and money to grow and support your ‘audience’.
LIANZA has offered an evaluation and impact professional development of four workshops and a nine-month community of practice, led by Marge Ainsley, a cultural consultant in the UK with specialist expertise in research and evaluation.
Applications were received by September 14 and 69 participants in three cohorts were included in the initiative. The first cohort began on September 24.
EVALUATION & IMPACT DELIVERY
Cohort One | Cohort Two | Cohort Three | ||
Workshop One | First steps in evaluation | Thursday September 24, 9-10am | Friday October 16, 9-10am | Thursday November 12, 9-10am |
Workshop Two | How to develop an evaluation framework logic model | Wednesday October 21, 9-11am | Friday November 27, 9-11am | Thursday December 3, 9-11am |
Workshop Three | An introduction to quantitative and qualitative research instruments | Thursday November 19, 9-11am | Wednesday December 9, 9-11am | Thursday January 14, 9-11am |
Workshop Four | Using data strategically within audience development | Wednesday December 16, 9-11am | Friday January 22, 9-11am | Thursday February 4, 9-11am |
Cohort One | Cohort Two | Cohort Three | ||
Community of Practice Hui Tahi | Introduction and ground rules for the CoP.
Inspire & reflect Sharing mini-evaluation or research plans (pre-task) in small groups Ideate Data collection tools prototyping in small groups |
Weds 10th Feb 9am – 10.30am | Weds 17th Feb 9am – 10.30am | Weds 24th Feb 9am – 10.30am |
Community of Practice Hui Rua | Inspire & reflect
Sharing prototyping experiences in small groups Ideate Second prototyping sprint + data analysis method |
Tues 9th Mar 9am – 10am | Tues 16th Mar 9am – 10am | Tues 23rd Mar 9am – 10am |
Community of Practice Hui Toru | Inspire & reflect
Sharing second prototyping in groups + how are you analysing the data and creating insight (what is the data you’re collecting telling you?) Ideate How will you tell your story and share your data insight |
Weds 14th April 9am – 10am | Weds 21st April 9am – 10am | Weds 28th April 9am – 10am |
Community of Practice Hui Wha | Inspire & reflect
Sharing data insight and storytelling progress in small groups Full group reflection on learning so far. |
Weds 9th June 9am – 10am | Weds 16th June 9am – 10am | Weds 23rd June 9am – 10am |
Celebration event | Celebration and reflection event | Weds 7th July 2021 9am – 10am
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Weds 14th July 9am – 10am | Weds 21st July 9am – 10am |
Hui Whakamahi - sharing learning at LIANZA regional hui
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All cohorts present an aspect of learning at a LIANZA regional hui. Details to follow. | Sept 2021 (date tbc) | ||
LIANZA Conference 2021 - sharing learning
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Sharing learning in-person or virtually at LIANZA 2021 Conference, Wellington, details to follow. | Nov 9-11, 2021 (date tbc) |
FUNDING & COMMITMENT
Funding
With the support of the NZ Libraries Partnership Programme, LIANZA has funded all participants to attend the four workshops and engage in the nine-month community of practice.
Commitment
Library managers were required to indicate their commitment to supporting their participant with release time to engage in the workshops and community of practice, undertake an evaluation project and to share their learning with the library sector.
All applicants wererequired to send in an application detailing why they wish to attend and to indicate their commitment to engaging in the initiative, including sharing their learning at a LIANZA regional hui whakamahi in September, 2021 and at the LIANZA Conference in November, 2021.

FACILITATOR
Marge Ainsley
Marge is a well-respected cultural consultant in the UK with specialist expertise in research and evaluation. She has 19 years’ experience working within the museums, libraries and archives sector.
A member of the Market Research Society, she was previously voted one of the 50 best freelancers in the UK by marketing magazine, The Drum. Marge launched her consultancy in 2008 and over the last twelve years as a consultant she’s worked with numerous arts organisations across the UK including Manchester International Festival, National Museums Liverpool, Cumbria Archives, Cheshire Archives, Signal Film & Media, Manchester Museum, Manchester Art Gallery, The Whitworth, Dales Countryside Museum, Macclesfield Museums Trust, West Cheshire Museums, Silverstone Heritage Experience (Silverstone Circuits Ltd), Scottish Book Trust, St Helens Libraries, London Transport Museum, Arts Council England and Fountains Abbey (National Trust, Ripon).
Marge is an active member of the museums, libraries and archives community, whether that’s sharing skills, and fostering innovative ideas through publications such as Public Library News or by disseminating evaluation findings at sector conferences e.g. Research Libraries UK / The National Archives DCDC, which she most recently presented at in November 2019. She is also a volunteer ‘critical friend’ of the programming committee at The Portico Library in Manchester.
http://margeainsley.co.uk/
Photo credit: Chris Payne
WORKSHOP OUTLINES
All workshops are being delivered using Zoom for 1 – 2.5 hours including a break and plenty of time for Q&A. The workshops will be recorded (with permission) and shared with participants afterwards, along with copies of slides or handouts. The sessions will be as interactive as possible, including the use of break out rooms for group tasks where appropriate.
Workshop One: First steps in evaluation: a whistle-stop tour of evaluation
This introductory 60-minute presentation and Q&A is designed to show that evaluation and monitoring isn’t boring!
Through drawing on her own experience working across the cultural sector, Marge will bring inspiring examples and case studies to introduce the basics of monitoring and evaluation so that participants leave feeling invigorated about, and confident in getting started with this area of work.
By the end of the session, you will:
- Understand the difference between monitoring, evaluation and research (demystifying the jargon that often surrounds this topic)
- Understand why monitoring and evaluation is important and how to keep it realistic based on your time and capacity
- Understand the importance of an evaluation framework and the various options available to produce one
- Be inspired by creative approaches to quantitative and qualitative methodologies
- Be reminded about the ethical considerations when undertaking evaluation work
- Reflect on the opportunities and challenges of evaluation in the sector at the moment
- Leave with links to further resources, tools and tips for further study in this area.
Workshop Two: How to develop an evaluation framework logic model
In this two-hour workshop we’ll focus on how to produce an evaluation roadmap for a project. Using a logic model format, the session will give participants a clear, straightforward process to follow along with desktop tools and templates to use after the session. Reporting frameworks such as the New Zealand Local Government Community Well-being and the UN 2030 Sustainable Development Goals may be drawn on to shape evaluations plans developed using the logic model.
By the end of the session, you will:
- Learn how to create a robust monitoring and evaluation framework for projects
- Find out how to embed ‘agile’ evaluation within an organisation or project team’s workload – to ensure your plan doesn’t sit on a shelf and responds to changing circumstances or needs of the audience/organisation
- Understand the definition of aims, activities, outputs, outcomes, indicators and data collection tools and why it’s important to be clear on each term
- Find out more about how to develop outcomes using frameworks such as Inspiring Learning For All’s Generic Learning Outcomes
- Think more broadly about the range of quantitative and qualitative methodologies available, focusing on measuring what matters
- Leave with a range of tools, templates and tips to enable you to produce your logic model.
Workshop Three: An introduction to quantitative and qualitative research instruments in the industry
It’s not all about surveys and focus groups. In this two-hour workshop Marge will go into more detail about data collection tools, inspiring participants to think differently about how they can measure what matters. We’ll assess the robustness or otherwise of available quantitative and qualitative tools; and discuss the ethical considerations when using them. Marge has a particular interest in inclusive tools and online qualitative methods so there will be a focus on these.
By the end of the session, you will:
- Understand how to choose the best tools based on the needs of your evaluation framework
- Understand the pitfalls and mistakes to avoid when designing surveys
- Be inspired by creative participatory methods being used in the sector and beyond – and be confident in assessing their robustness or lack of robustness
- Find out about the latest online qualitative research approaches which are used in the wider market research industry, including asynchronous and synchronous designed methods
- Understand options available for analysis, especially qualitative data
- Leave with resources and further reading, including for health and wellbeing evaluation tools.
Workshop Four: Using data strategically within audience development
Data is gold dust for audience development planning and marketing. Indeed, understanding your existing and potential audiences and key stakeholders is essential for communicating the 'story' of your library. In this two-hour workshop you’ll learn how organisations can use quantitative and qualitative data strategically for audience development planning. Using a real-world case study, Marge will walk through the process used and will give practical tips to increase confidence and ability in using data.
By the end of the session, you will:
- Understand the types of data organisations can collect to support their audience development planning process
- Learn how segmentation works and how marketers use tools like Audience Spectrum and Culture Segments for audience development planning.
- Gain confidence in understanding how to work out who your existing and potential audiences are
- Understand the requirements of an audience development plan and what we mean by ‘audience development’.
Community of Practice Hui
A community of practice will support participants from both cohorts to put their learning into action.
The purpose of the community of practice is to test and trial evaluation ideas and activity in a safe space, and to foster shared learning and networking opportunities through regular reflection workshops. Monthly hui will be an opportunity for the participants to reflect and discuss issues, share ideas collectively and share learning and will be supported by Ana Pickering, LIANZA Executive Director.
Marge will facilitate five bi-monthly hui which will have a defined thematic area with ‘homework’ to keep the impetus and motivation levels high and to add accountability for learning. The sessions will directly link to the four workshops and each participant will choose an evaluation project for their library and follow an evaluation process to put learning into practice. Hui will be held monthly to allow adequate time for piloting and ‘doing’, with check-ins and dialogue with Marge and other participants in-between via an online support channel.
PARTICIPANTS
COHORT ONE | COHORT TWO | COHORT THREE | |||
Name | Library | Name | Library | Name | Library |
Annalese Weber | Hamilton City Libraries | Kareen Carter | Wellington Medical & Health Sciences Library | Bernie Hawke | Dunedin Public Libraries |
Bonnie Sarkar | Christchurch City Libraries | Paula Broekhuizen | Hauora Tairawhiti Clinical Library | Deborah Gordon | Kapiti Coast District Libraries |
Emma Sherie | Buller District Libraries | Rebecca Dames | Waikato DHB Medical Library | Nicola Smith | Far North District Libraries |
Emma Waywyn | Napier Library | Dyane Hosler | Puke Ariki | Kay Huia | Hamilton City Council |
Geoffrey Lush | Parliamentary Library | Nicole Noldus | Hutt City Libraries | Hamish Lindop | Auckland Libraries |
Heather Furniss | Matamata-Piako District Libraries | Andrew Henry | Auckland Libraries | Lalita Sudhakar | South Waikato District Libraries - Tokoroa Public Library |
Jane Thomsen | Hewitson Library Presbyterian Research Centre | Vicki Woodrow | Clutha District Libraries | Laura Caygill | Waimakariri Libraries |
Vicki Darling | Central Otago District Libraries | Senga White | Invercargill City Libraries | Jo Cocker | Auckland Libraries |
Jill Watson | Ashburton Public Library | Alice Cruickshank | Christchurch City Libraries | Ebony Curtin | South Waikato District Libraries |
Joanna Boyd | Far North District Libraries | Lisa Kemp | Auckland Libraries | Saskia Hill | Cashmere High School Library |
Katie Brazil | Christchurch City Libraries | Rob Baigent | Hamilton City Libraries | Kylie Smith | Rosehill College Library |
Krystel Woodcock | Westland District Library | Lillian Pak | Hutt City Libraries | Miriam Tuohy | National Library |
Laura Findlay | Nelson Public Libraries | Jennifer Kirkwood | Waimakariri Libraries | Jacinda Boivin | University of Otago |
Nicola Stedman | NZ Law Society Library | Ngaio Hughey-Cockerell | Waimakariri Libraries | Susan Eady | Unitec Library |
Paul Tudor | Tonkin & Taylor LTD Library | Fiona Kerr | Waitaki Libraries | Paula Eskett | Waimakariri Libraries |
Philippa Robinson | Auckland City Art Gallery | Victoria Passau | Auckland War Memorial Museum | Kirstin Kane | Auckland Libraries |
Rachel Watson | Dargaville Public Library | Helena Westwick | Mental Health Foundation of NZ | Jeanne Clifton | Auckland Libraries |
Rebecca Keenan | Dunedin Public Libraries | Lily Phillips | Parliamentary Library | Zayna Hussein | Auckland Libraries |
Reesha Ranchod | Hutt City Libraries | Simon Wetherill | Walsh Memorial Library MOTAT | Debbie Williams | Central Hawkes Bay |
Steven Harley | Nelson Public Libraries | Jennifer Klarwill | Department of Corrections | Esther Casey | Sylvia Park School |
Iris Zhu | Auckland University of Technology | Judith Porter | Environmental Protection Authority | ||
Rhea Fohs | Upper Hutt Libraries | Pamela Dais | Tararua District Library | ||
Kate Reynolds | Wintec Library | Tom Avery | Open Polytechnic | ||
Chelsea Renshaw | Walsh Memorial Library MOTAT | Angela Jowitt | Puke Ariki Libraries | ||
Anna Hodson | Tauranga Library | ||||