Last updated on 26 June 2020
#blogjune Day 28: I briefly explain the evidence-based library and information practice (EBLIP) Capability Maturity Model and why the model’s tiers go from 1 to 5 (no Tier 0).
Transcript
G’day and welcome to this video series chatting about evidence-based library and information practice. In the last couple of videos I’ve introduced some recent research about the development of a EBLIP capability maturity model.
With this model, library leaders could or may determine the extent to which their libraries are practicing in an evidence-based way. And so the three elements on which a library’s maturity could be evaluated on includes process, engagement and evidence. In this video I’m going to delve a little bit into the maturity model itself.
One thing to note here is that the research data itself validated a capability maturity model as an appropriate framework to enable library leaders to evaluate evidence-based practice in their own libraries. Maturity seemed to appear over a spectrum, you know, from the higher to lower.
No ‘Tier 0’
It proposes five tiers one through to five. We don’t have a tier 0 because in some way or form libraries tend to gather data. I know here in Australia various statistics are gathered by university libraries and submitted to the Council of Australian University Libraries. So as a bare minimum that happens.
First tier, we have ad hoc or sporadic. The second one is justifying. The third emerging, where evidence-based practice is starting to become a bit more routine specifically with project work. Then we have four, experimenting. And then five is transforming.
Examples of low and high EBP maturity
So a few examples of maturity levels across the dimensions. Process, this goes from collecting local stuff without really knowing why and that no analysis is conducted on that data, through to that evidence-based practice can enable a library to have influence and it can cultivate different or better relationships with stakeholders.
Engagement went from decision making being ad hoc and informal through to evidence-based practice is the way the library conducts itself.
And then evidence, that maturity went from decisions being made either based on one type of evidence or even just on opinion, through to that evidence is more than data, that it’s information. Information that can be used to make informed decisions.
So if you’re keen for more, do check out the full publications.
Take care and cheers.
References
Thorpe, C. and Howlett, A. (2020). Applied and Conceptual Approaches to Evidence-Based Practice in Research and Academic Libraries. LIBER Quarterly, 30(1), 1-17.
Thorpe, C. and Howlett, A. (2020). Understanding EBLIP at an Organisational Level: An initial maturity model. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 15(1), 90-105. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29639
You can also view Day 28 (The EBLIP Capability Maturity Model) video here.
Catch up on all the videos here.
