How do you demonstrate the value and impact of information literacy programs to stakeholders and funders?

1 Define your goals and objectives

Before you start planning and implementing your information literacy program, you need to have a clear idea of what you want to achieve and how you will measure it. What are the specific learning outcomes and competencies that you want your participants to develop? How do they align with the curriculum, standards or mission of your institution or organization? How will you assess the progress and performance of your participants? How will you collect and analyze data and evidence to support your claims? Having a well-defined and realistic set of goals and objectives will help you design and deliver a relevant and effective information literacy program that meets the needs and interests of your target audience.

2 Identify your stakeholders and funders

Another important step is to identify who are the key stakeholders and funders of your information literacy program and what are their roles, interests and expectations. Stakeholders and funders may include students, teachers, librarians, administrators, parents, community members, donors, sponsors, partners, policymakers, accrediting agencies, media, etc. Depending on the scope and scale of your program, you may need to communicate with different groups of stakeholders and funders at different stages of your program. You need to understand their perspectives, motivations and concerns and tailor your messages and strategies accordingly.

3 Use a variety of methods and tools

There is no one-size-fits-all approach to demonstrating the value and impact of information literacy programs. You need to use a variety of methods and tools that suit your context, goals, objectives, audience and resources. Some of the common methods and tools include surveys, interviews, focus groups, observations, tests, quizzes, portfolios, rubrics, case studies, stories, testimonials, feedback forms, reports, presentations, infographics, videos, podcasts, blogs, social media, etc. You need to choose the methods and tools that are appropriate, reliable, valid, ethical and feasible for your program and that can capture both quantitative and qualitative data and evidence.

4 Highlight the outcomes and benefits

One of the main challenges of demonstrating the value and impact of information literacy programs is to show how they contribute to the outcomes and benefits that matter to your stakeholders and funders. These may include academic achievement, student retention, graduation rates, employability skills, career readiness, civic engagement, social inclusion, digital citizenship, innovation, creativity, problem-solving, critical thinking, collaboration, communication, etc. You need to show how your information literacy program helps your participants develop these skills and competencies and how they apply them in their academic, professional and personal lives. You also need to show how your information literacy program supports the goals and objectives of your institution or organization and how it adds value to its reputation, performance and sustainability.

5 Share your results and stories

The final step is to share your results and stories with your stakeholders and funders in a clear, concise and compelling way. You need to present your data and evidence in a format and language that is accessible, understandable and meaningful to your audience. You need to highlight the strengths and achievements of your information literacy program as well as the challenges and limitations that you faced and how you addressed them. You need to use stories and testimonials to illustrate the impact and benefits of your information literacy program on your participants and their contexts. You also need to acknowledge the contributions and feedback of your stakeholders and funders and express your gratitude and appreciation for their support and collaboration.