Introduction

This chapter is concerned with project evaluation and methods of disseminating the outcomes of the project. A formal project evaluation process is often required by the funders or sponsors of projects and, in all types of projects, they are an important means of learning from the experience and sharing good practices. Individuals working on small, local projects may feel pressurised to move on to the next project as soon as their current one is complete but if they fail to reflect on and evaluate their work there is the danger that lessons are not learnt and mistakes repeated in later projects.

It is common practice to disseminate the outcomes of a project in order to gain publicity for the project, the library and information service and the parent organisation, and help share good practice and lessons learnt. Dissemination of the outcomes of the evaluation process is considered in the second part of this chapter, which covers reports, websites, social media, community events, presentations at meetings, conference papers, and posters, infographics and e-posters.

Project evaluation

An important part of the project process is project evaluation which is carried out for a number of reasons. As a management tool, it enables the project manager and others to identify their effectiveness, areas of strength and weakness, and lessons for the future. The outcomes of the evaluation process, such as reports or presentations, may be used to disseminate good practice and lessons learnt within the library and information service, their parent organisation, and the wider professional library community. They act as a marketing tool and a means of career progress for individuals. The funders or sponsors of projects normally require some kind of evaluation process to be carried out. Finally a user group or other agency may become involved in evaluating the project.

The project evaluation process entails answering questions such as: