OPLA Research and Evaluation Committee

Mandate

The OPLA Research & Evaluation Committee reports to the OPLA Council and is responsible for collaborating with OPLA Council to develop a research and evaluation strategy that identifies and supports best practices for assessing the value of Ontario public libraries.

Responsibilities/Objectives

The committee’s work will contribute to OLA’s 2017-20 strategic priority of “building evaluation and research capacity” in the Ontario public library sector by conducting applied research and by supporting professional development for research and program evaluation. The OPLA Research & Evaluation Committee will:

Advise OPLA Council on the research priorities for OPLA, taking into consideration current trends in public libraries, existing research in the sector and other organizations such as the Federation of Ontario Public Libraries (FOPL), the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Sport (MTCS), and the Canadian Urban Libraries Council (CULC), etc.
Manage the survey process for OPLA, conducting at least one survey of Ontario Public Libraries per year. Committee responsibilities include: identifying research questions, development of data collection tools, data analysis, report preparation, dissemination and data management according to FAIR principles
Assist in building public library sector capacity for applied research and evaluation skills by developing training in multiple formats.

Committee Membership

Sarah Roberts, Vaughan Public Libraries (Chair)

Alison Clarke, Brampton Public Library

Erika Heeson, Perth Union Public Library

Rebecca Hunt, Temiskaming Shores Public Library

Kelly Bernstein, Brant Public Library

Shaun McDonough, Markham Public Library

Dakota Smith, London Public Library

Marni Tam, Toronto Public Library

Rahul Joseph, University of Toronto

Jessica Stephenson, East Gwillimbury Public Library

Brandon Fratarcangeli, Ontario Library Service (OLS)

and

Ex-Officio Member – Lily Kwok, Ontario Library Association

Learn more

Read the Committee’s Terms of Reference. For more information contact Lily Kwok.