WSU Libraries Mission Statement 

The Wayne State University Libraries advance student success by providing students both with the skills, necessary to locate, evaluate, and use information and with the information services and resources necessary for academic and professional achievement and personal growth.

Library Instruction

1. Undergraduate students will be able to locate books and journal articles on a given topic through tools (e.g., catalog, Quick Search, databases) on the Libraries’ website. Means of measurement and criteria for success to be identified. [Keywords: Locate Information Sources]

2. Undergraduate students will be able to evaluate the books and articles they identify in library searches for reliability and relevance. Means of measurement and criteria for success to be identified. [Keywords: Evaluate Information Sources]

3. Provide first-year undergraduate students with the instruction necessary to locate and evaluate information for their assignments and studies. Information literacy instruction will be provided to 25% of the members of each cohort of entering first year students within three semesters of their entering the University. [Keywords: Undergraduate Instruction]

4. Provide instructors with the assistance necessary to compose “library assignments” that will encourage students to explore information resources and develop library research skills. The subject specialist/liaison librarians will document at least 100 collaborations with faculty members on assignments each academic year. [Keywords: Provide Instructor Assistance]

Reference Services/Research Consultations

5. Provide reference services and research consultations to assist students with their projects and research needs. 30% of undergraduate and graduate students surveyed will report that they have “Consulted with or asked a question of a Library staff member” at least once a semester. [Keywords: Reference Services]

Library Materials (physical and digital)

6. Provide students with print books that contribute to learning and growth. 60% of students surveyed will rate their satisfaction with our print books above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. Use of print resources will exceed 22,000 circulation per fiscal year. [Keywords: Print Books]

7. Provide students with ebooks that contribute to learning and growth. 60% of students surveyed will rate their satisfaction with ebooks above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. The use of ebooks will exceed 1,400,000 uses per fiscal year. [Keywords: Ebooks]

8. Provide students with the digital journals/articles that contribute to learning and growth. 60% of students surveyed will rate their satisfaction with digital journals above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. Use of digital journals will exceed 1,800,000 downloads/uses per fiscal year. [Keywords: Print Journals]

9. Provide students with the digital journals/articles that contribute to learning and growth. 60% of students surveyed will rate their satisfaction with digital journals above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. Use of digital journals will exceed 1,800,000 downloads/uses per fiscal year. [Keywords: Digital Journals]

Circulation and Reserve Services

10. Provide students with circulation and reserve services that contribute to learning and growth. 50% of students will report satisfaction with circulation and reserve services above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. [Keywords: Circulation of Resources]

Interlibrary Loan/Document delivery

11. Provide interlibrary loan/document delivery services that contribute to learning and growth. 60% of students will report satisfaction with interlibrary loan and document delivery services above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. [Keywords: Interlibrary Loan]

Libraries’ Website

12. Provide a website that students use easily and efficiently to meet their study and research needs. 60% of students surveyed will report that they use the library’s website at least once a semester. 60% of surveyed students will report satisfaction with the Libraries’ website above 3 on a 5-point Likert scale. [Keywords: Library Website]

Library Buildings

13. Provide individual study space that students find conducive to study and academic work. 70% of students surveyed will rate their satisfaction with individual study space at 3 or higher on a 5-point Likert scale. [Keywords: Individual Study Space]

14. Provide the group study space that students will find conducive to study and academic work. 70% of students will rate their satisfaction with group study space at 3 or higher on a 5-point Likert scale. [Keywords: Group Study Space]

Two assessments of learning outcomes are required annually. COVID disrupted execution of the University Libraries'  assessment plan.  The following assessments were intended:

Assessment Method 1: Library Resources and Services Student Survey

A survey on library resources and services to be administered to undergraduate, graduate, and professional students in February 2019. This survey will provide the Likert scale data associated with a number of our outcomes.

This method will supply data for Outcomes 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, and 14.

See “Draft WSU Library Resources and Services Student Survey” below

Results: NA

Program Action Plan: NA

Timeline for Action Plan Implementation: NA

Reporting to Stakeholders: NA

Assessment Method 2: Measurement of the Use of Resources

We will use data gathered for the Association of Research Libraries, Association of College and Research Libraries, IPEDS, and other professional/governmental entities to determine whether the use of physical and digital resources reach expected levels. In the early years of this assessment, the data will also be reviewed to determine reasonable targets for use. Usage data is compiled for completed fiscal years; for the 2019-2020 assessment, we will be reviewing data for FY 2019 (i.e., October 2019 through September 2019).             

This method will supply data for Outcomes 6, 7, 8, and 9.

Results: NA

Program Action Plan: NA

Timeline for Action Plan Implementation: NA

Reporting to Stakeholders: NA