The findings of the FE survey are now available in the members’ area. View.
Introduction
In 2015 CoLRiC carried out a second survey of library/learning resources services in sixth form colleges. Following the success of this survey it was decided to carry out a similar survey of library/learning resources services in general FE colleges. It is hoped this will provide colleagues in general FE colleges with a helpful measure of their own situations.
Areas covered
The areas covered in this survey are similar to those covered in the sixth form college survey. They include budgets, opening times, staffing, size, study spaces, facilities and services, resources, user education, useage, VLE, technology and e-books.
The survey
All general FE college library/learning resources services were invited to complete the survey, both CoLRiC members and non-members. The survey questionnaire was distributed in December 2015; the deadline for responses was extended to mid-February 2016.
The findings
A report of the findings was sent to all who participated in the survey. It is also available to CoLRiC members in the members area of the CoLRiC website.
View findings
The findings of the survey are now available in the members’ area. View
Introduction
The first CoLRiC survey of library/learning resources services in sixth form colleges was undertaken in 2006/07 and the second in 2014/15. With this second survey it was hoped to re-establish the survey on a more regular basis to provide library/learning resources services in sixth form colleges with a helpful measure of their own situations and a useful indicator of sector trends over time. A third survey was therefore undertaken in 2016/17, repeating that of two years ago.
Areas covered
The areas covered in this latest survey were the sames as those in the second survey. These were amended from those in the first survey following a consultation with CoLRiC sixth form college members in January 2014. They include budgets, opening times, staffing, size, study spaces, facilities and services, resources, user education, useage, VLE, technology and e-books.
The survey
All sixth form college library/learning resource centres were invited to complete the survey, both CoLRiC members and non-members.The deadline for responses was extended to Friday 17th February 2017.
The findings
A copy of the findings has been sent to all who participated. It is also available to CoLRiC members in the members area of the CoLRiC website.
View 2016/17 findings
View previous findings
The survey is now closed; the deadline for responses was 31st July 2017. Many thanks to all who participated.
Introduction
This is the fifteenth annual performance and impact indicators survey carried out by CoLRiC. All CoLRiC member colleges were invited to take part.
About the survey
The survey was carried out in two parts: part one was the user count; part two comprised the questions for staff and students. More
Survey findings
A report of the findings will be available in early Autumn 2017. A copy will be emailed to all who participated. The report will also be available in the members’ area.
Survey report 2016
Previous findings
About the indicators
Introduction
CoLRiC carries out an annual survey of library and learning resources services in FE and sixth form colleges against a set of performance and impact indicators. The results are collated each year and published in the members’ area of the CoLRiC website. Findings have proved helpful to colleagues when analysing their own situations and, over the longer term, as a useful indicator of trends over time.
Review of the indicators
Although using the same indicators each year provides an indication of trends over time, we recognise that the indicators will need updating occasionally so that they remain useful and relevant. They were last reviewed during summer 2014 when we asked CoLRiC members to complete a short review form. The responses indicated that the current indicators remain relevant and useful and so we did not need to change the design of the 2015, 2016 or 2017 surveys.
The indicators were previously reviewed in Summer 2011 and in response to feedback from CoLRiC members we amended the questions slightly in the 2012 and following surveys. We refined the questions for students to make them less ambiguous and we added an extra question for staff regarding involvement in the college VLE.
PII survey 2017
We have just completed the fifteenth annual survey. Details
PII survey 2016
The findings of the 2016 survey are available in the members area of this site. The findings of previous surveys can also be found here.
About the indicators
The indicators focus on the qualitative aspects of a learning resources service performance covering five key areas:
- Service usage
- User attitudes to satisfaction
- User-service interface
- Finding and using information
- Integration with curriculum delivery
We believe that students who use the learning resources service and succeed in their college work reflect success for the service as much as other areas of the college environment.
CoLRiC Assessors are largely drawn from senior professional staff in colleges; they are interested in improving Learning Resources Services, supporting their peer professionals and raising the profile of their profession.
Would you like to be an Assessor?
If you:
- like a challenge
- want to make a difference to Learning Resources in the FE Sector
- are passionate about quality assurance
- have current experience of managing Learning Resources in the post-16 Sector
- have experience of taking your own Service through a CoLRiC Peer Assessment
- can commit to around 8 days per year for training and assessments
we would like to hear from you! Please contact the CoLRiC Administrator for further details. Contact details.
There are two stages to having your College Learning Resources Services assessed under CoLRiC’s Peer Accreditation Scheme:
Stage One: registration
You register with the Scheme. CoLRiC will send you a list of the criteria for assessment and a checklist of documents you will need to produce as evidence of your Service’s performance against the criteria. If you wish, you can use these resources to carry out a self-assessment of your Service and not proceed any further.
Stage Two: the Assessment
You request a Peer Assessment of your Service. CoLRiC will agree with you a date for your assessment and arrange for at least two trained Assessors to visit your Service on that day
Preparation
You will collect together the documents required as evidence, some of which you will send to CoLRiC in advance. Most agree that this is the part of the process that takes the longest time. You will also draw up a timetable for the assessment day in consultation with CoLRiC.
Assessment day
During the assessment day, the Assessors will view the service in operation, interview staff, students and senior management and study the data and information available to them. At the end of the day the Assessors will give initial feedback, describing the strengths and emerging strengths of the Service and areas for development. They will also give an assessment grade.
Following assessment
Within 15 days CoLRiC will provide a formal report of the assessment findings. CoLRiC will also send a certificate stating the awarded grade; this is valid for three years.
Futher information
Please contact the CoLRiC Administrator for more information about the Scheme and how to register. Contact details.
About the Scheme
The Peer Accreditation Scheme was launched in 1997 to support the FE inspection framework with objective peer reviews of Learning Resources provision by professionally qualified and experienced colleagues. The reviews have a particular focus on the impact of Learning Centres on curriculum development and the contribution toward retention and achievement successes.
In 2011 the Scheme went through a process of revision and the new Scheme was launched in Spring 2012.
Details (presentation given at the CoLRiC event, Stockport, May 2016)
Further details (special edition of the CoLRiC Newsletter)
The benefits of accreditation
- Provides a rigorous evaluation of the service within the context of available resources
- Assesses how effectively development of the Service is supported by its Organisation
- Offers impartial advice on potential service development
- Supplies a recognised national quality mark and evidence for Ofsted inspection.
How does it work?
Trained CoLRiC Assessors visit the college and evaluate the quality and impact of the Learning Resources Service using a constructed standard of an excellent service. This is in the form of a list of criteria against which the Service is compared. The Service is given a grade based on the evidence presented.
The criteria can also be used as the basis of a self assessment of the Learning Resources Service.
More about the Scheme | Assessment procedure | CoLRiC Assessors
Further information
To enquire about registering with the Scheme, please contact the CoLRiC Administrator (contact details) or complete the form below.
The Scheme has been revised into four sections which emphasis vision, leadership and management, and collaboration in teaching and learning. It reflects the holistic role of a Learning Resources Service in an organisation and the support it gives to positive learner experience and success. Assessment acknowledges the range of activity and partnerships in which a modern Learning Resources Service will be engaged.
Leadership and management
This section evaluates the mission and vision for the Learning Resources Service. An effective Learning Resources Service will be in alignment with the mission and vision of the Organisation. The designated Service Manager will have a clear role in the operation and development of the College. Leaders and managers at all levels will market the Learning Resources Service, influence others and set and maintain the Service profile.
Resources
This section assesses the management of resources across the organisation as it affects the Learning Resources Service. Resources include physical and learning environments, staff, financial allocation and information collection in all formats.
Integration into teaching and learning
A Learning Resources Service contributes to College success rates. The impact of learning resources is related to the independent learning and IT skills of students and staff. This section, therefore, assesses the effectiveness of the Learning Resources Service in supporting the development of these skills alongside the role of learning resources in supporting teaching and learning. This is wide ranging and will include areas such as supporting different styles of learning, supporting the development of curriculum teams, taking the lead on ‘e’-learning initiatives and contributing to the success rates of the Organisation. Collection development will support the above.
Quality Assurance
This is the mechanism by which leadership and management are measured, evaluated, and reviewed for improvement. Assessors will judge the effectiveness of the contributions made by internal and external partnerships, the learner voice, staff development and Continuing Professional Development. Value for money will also be a contributing factor.
Further information
For further information about the Scheme and how to register, please contact the CoLRIC Administrator. Contact details.
One of CoLRiC’s primary aims is to raise the quality of college learning resources services; assessment and benchmarking are seen as key elements in this.
We support these in two important ways:
We have also recently completed a new benchmarking survey of sixth form college library/learning resource services and are currently conducting a similar survey for FE colleges
