Lavery Library assesses student learning through a variety of methods, including formative, summative, and programmatic assessments. These assessments are used to help improve library instruction, evaluate student learning outcomes and information literacy skills, and provide evidence of the value of library instruction and research services.
Librarians assess classroom learning in the Core Library sessions through the administration of a posttest.
The Higher Education Data Sharing (HEDS) Research Practices Survey (RPS) allows for programmatic assessment of information literacy and longitudinal assessment of information literacy skills progression. The Library committed to a 10-year longitudinal assessment of Fisher students information literacy skills, from fall 2015 to spring 2026.
Beginning in fall 2015, the Library began administering the RPS to first-semester freshman, prior to library instruction, and second-semester freshmen, after FYP instruction in the spring semester. Second-semester seniors are also surveyed during the spring semester.