Prioritizing Inclusivity and Transparency in Revising the Proficiencies for Assessment in Academic Libraries

Abstract

This column provides an overview of the newly updated Proficiencies for Assessment in Academic Libraries (approved June 2023) and outlines the steps and rationale for each phase of the revision process. It is our hope that you will not only apply and share these assessment proficiencies in your own organizations and practice but also consider how you might adapt the strategies for inclusivity and transparency that were used to update the Proficiencies in your own work such as strategic planning, updating or revising programs, or creating new services.

Keywords:

• Assessment
• proficiencies
• inclusive practices
• transparency
• social justice

Acknowledgments

A special thank you goes to all Proficiencies working group members. In particular, this work couldn’t have been accomplished without the dedication of the Writing Team members who spent countless hours drafting and revising the new Proficiencies for Assessment in Academic Libraries. Writing team members include Becky Croxton (chair), Jackie Belanger, Kat Bell, Mark Emmons, Deb Gilchrist, Starr Hoffman, Megan Oakleaf, Eric Resnis, Jung Mi Scoulas, Maurini Strub, Nola Walker, and Jen-chien Yu. The time and expertise shared by additional working group members were also critical to the success of this project. These individuals contributed to the Proficiencies efforts by organizing or participating in focus groups and interviews, conducting the literature review and environmental scan, and reviewing and providing feedback for multiple iterations of Proficiencies. Additional Working Group Members: Tracy Bartholomew, Polly Boruff-Jones, Brian Bourke, Spencer Brayton, Kawanna Bright, Danielle Cooper, Sojourna Cunningham, Ione Damasco, Beate Gersch, Meg Grotti, Gavin Henning, Claire Holmes, Natasha Jankowski, Lauren Kosrow, Maha Kumaran, Thomas Nelson Laird, Joe Levy, Keith Nichols, Kelly Rhodes, Mantra Roy, Je Salvador, Matthew Shaw, and Brandy Whitlock. Special acknowledgements go to: Heather Charlotte Owen, whose research uncovered the absence of proficiencies related to social justice, equity, diversity, inclusion, and accessibility in the initial 2017 ACRL Proficiencies for Assessment Librarians and Coordinators, and inspired this updated set of Proficiencies. Payton Dana Cooke, reviewed, annotated, and organized hundreds of resources. Bailee Ford transcribed, analyzed, and summarized all of the focus group and interview materials.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).