The Evidence Based Practice Process

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The Evidence Based Practice Process

• Andrew Booth
• Reader in Evidence Based Information Practice,
  University of Sheffield
• For the FOLIO EBLIP-Gloss Course

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Evidence based library and information practice is

• Evidence Based Library and Information Practice
  (EBLIP) seeks to improve library and information
  services and practice by bringing together the
  best available evidence and insights derived from
  working experience, moderated by user needs and
  preferences.
• EBLIP involves asking answerable questions,
  finding, critically appraising and then utilising
  research evidence from relevant disciplines in
  daily practice. It thus attempts to integrate
  user-reported, practitioner-observed and
  research-derived evidence as an explicit basis
  for decision-making. (Booth, 2006)

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The process of evidence-based library and
information practice
Eldredge, 2000
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In other words.

• the 5As
• Ask a focused question
• Acquire the evidence
• Appraise the studies
• Apply the findings
• Assess the impact.and your own development

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So let us consider a worked example

• Based on Abbott WA (2006), Persuasive Evidence
  Improving Customer Service through Evidence Based
  Librarianship Evidence Based Library and
  Information Practice, 11

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A Worked Example

• In Bond University Library (Setting) would the
  provision of increased opening hours
  (Intervention) to meet student demand
  (Perspective) lead to benefits (Evaluation) when
  compared with current provision (Comparison)?
• How realistic is twenty-four hour opening? Same
  Setting, Intervention and Comparison but with
  Evaluation from Management Perspective.

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An Evidence-based approach

• Decision made to use an evidence based approach -
  library management decided that a comprehensive
  report with recommendations based on best
  practice and other relevant evidence would inform
  all stakeholders and help to resolve the issue.

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Identifying the evidence

• Librarys opening hours compared to other
  Australian university libraries using Council of
  Australian University Librarians (CAUL) annual
  statistics.
• Survey of twenty-four hour facilities of other
  Australian university libraries via
  questionnaire.
• Review of literature illustrated that
  internationally, increasing number of
  institutions are opening for twenty-four hours
  for some days of the week and new libraries are
  being built to incorporate a twenty-four hour
  facility.
• Quantitative analysis of feedback about opening
  hours received from customers in 2004 indicated
  low but persistent level of complaints
• Quantitative analysis of usage patterns gathered
  in the Librarys Facilities Use Survey showed
  current spread of hours approximated closely to
  usage

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Evidence from research

• Research conducted in US indicates that students
  requests for extended library opening hours are
  perennial and vary from requests to open until
  2.00 am during exam periods to demands to open
  24-7 most days of year (Steele and Walters
  Curry Engel, Womack and Ellis).

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Evidence based decision-making

• Detailed costing prepared for four different
  scenarios ranging from longer opening hours for
  duration of semester to short period of 24-hour
  opening leading up to exam period.
• Evidence appraised and summarised in report
  recommending further increase in opening hours in
  weeks leading up to exam period.
• Longer term recommendation was to incorporate
  24-hour study facility when and if Library is
  refurbished.
• Based on CAUL survey, facility should provide
  individual and group study spaces, computers,
  wireless access, laptop ports, photocopier and
  printing equipment, vending machines, lounges and
  appropriate security arrangements.

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Acting on the evidence

• Report discussed with Student Council and senior
  University executive. Recommendation for long
  term accepted but short term proposal not
  adopted!
• Through process, all stakeholders gained good
  understanding of issues and agreed with decision
  made.
• Refurbishment has progressed
• University has invited proposals from architects
  to develop a project brief.
• Evidence gathered to resolve opening hours
  question has led to better understanding of
  Librarys role in providing learning environment
  in addition to traditional role as repository of
  books/provider of electronic resources.
• Has helped convince senior executive that
  refurbishment necessary to meet student needs.

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Moving on to further questions

• Refurbishment proposal has defined new question
• What facilities and services would students like
  to see included in refurbished library?
• Stakeholder feedback is being gathered using
  online survey and focus groups.

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The process of evidence-based library and
information practice
Eldredge, 2000
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References

• Abbott WA (2006), Persuasive Evidence Improving
  Customer Service through Evidence Based
  Librarianship Evidence Based Library and
  Information Practice, 11
• Booth A (2006) Counting what counts Performance
  Measurement and Evidence Based Practice
  Performance Measurement and Metrics, 7 (2),
  63-74.
• Booth A and Brice, A, (2004) Evidence Based
  Practice for Information Professionals a
  handbook. Facet Publishing.
• Eldredge JD (2000). Evidence-based librarianship
  an overview. Bull Med Libr Assoc. 2000
  Oct88(4)289-302.
• Eldredge JD. Evidence-Based Librarianship The
  EBL Process. Library Hi Tech 2006 24 (3)
  341-54.