Association of Research Libraries

The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) will fund pilot research project teams to develop models for creating impact-centric measures for libraries. Historically, research libraries have identified quantitative measures without specifying the value and impact of those measures. In response to the absence of outcome- and impact-centric measures, ARL developed a Research Library Impact Framework to describe the impact of a research Library's services and programs in support of typical, real-world institutional missions and goals. The current project addresses the needs of libraries and archives to more precisely understand and better communicate the impact they have within their own institutions and across broader research and learning ecosystems. This highly collaborative project focuses on the needs of the researcher and the learner, in the context of the research and teaching mission of research libraries across the country.