ARL’s Research Library Impact Framework (RLIF) initiative was established in 2019 with a grant from the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and extends the recommendations developed by the Assessment Program Visioning Task Force in 2017. The task force outlined a series of recommendations aimed at aligning the research and analytics work of the Association with the goals and needs of members. Among the recommendations was to create a Research Library Impact Framework that explored library services, operations, impact, and alignment with institutional mission and goals across four critical areas: (1) Research and Scholarly Life Cycle; (2) Teaching, Learning, and Student Success; (3) Collections; (4) Physical Space.
In August 2018, the ARL Assessment Committee (now called the Research and Analytics Committee) identified five research questions from the framework as high-priority based on extensive feedback from ARL library directors and assessment practitioners. The five questions were intended to help ARL members “set the context for understanding and communicating the stories of the research library to external stakeholders and to provide the tools for members to tell this story locally.” The overall goal of the RLIF initiative was to help ARL members communicate the impact and relevance of research libraries’ and archives’ activities in ways that resonate with budget holders and stakeholders through the piloted research projects.
ARL released the final report of the RLIF pilot initiative, Building a Community of Assessment, in March 2023. The report details the research projects, findings, and lessons learned conducted under the pilot phase of this framework. It also includes information about the framework itself as a means to explore and learn about research library impacts. Finally, the report identifies next steps and potential considerations for any future implementation.
Contact Kevin Borden (kborden@arl.org) with questions.
RLIF Pilot Project Reports and Presentations
Research and Assessment Cycle Toolkit
Framework Background Materials
Additional RLIF Training Materials & Poster Sessions
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Research Library Impact Framework Initiative and Pilots: Attracting and Retaining Top Researchers and Faculty
Research question: (How) do the library's collections play a role in attracting and retaining top researchers and faculty to the institution? Project Team and Description Practice Brief: University of Texas...
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Research Library Impact Framework Initiative and Pilots: Special Collections
Research question: (How) do the library's special collections specifically support and promote teaching, learning, and research? Project Teams Pilot Project: UC Irvine Pilot Project: University of Pittsburgh Practice Brief: Johns...
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Research Library Impact Framework Initiative and Pilots: Equitable Student Outcomes and an Inclusive Learning Environment
Research question: (How) does the library contribute to equitable student outcomes and an inclusive learning environment? Project Teams Pilot Project: Texas Tech University Practice Brief: University of Washington Project Descriptions...
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Research Library Impact Framework Initiative and Pilots: Library Spaces
Research question: (How) do library spaces facilitate innovative research, creative thinking, and problem-solving? Project Teams Pilot Project: University of Florida Practice Brief: Iowa State University Pilot Project: Syracuse University Practice...
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Research Library Impact Framework Initiative and Pilots: Research Productivity and Impact
Research question: (How) does the library help to increase research productivity and impact? Project Teams Pilot Project: UC Berkeley Pilot Project: University of Illinois Chicago Pilot Project: University of Pittsburgh...