IFLA MENA RDC Gives a Workshop in Collaboration with The Syrian Computer Society ورشة عمل حول “قياس وتقييم وإظهار تأثير خدمات المكتبة” بالتعاون مع الجمعية العلمية السورية للمعلوماتية

IFLA MENA RDC offered a workshop in Damascus Syria in collaboration with The Syrian Computer Society (SCS). The workshop titled “Measuring, Evaluating, and Demonstrating the Impact of Library Services” was held on May 20-21, 2024, at SCS headquarters.

The opening ceremony of the workshop was attended by:

• Mr. Hassan Najjar, President of the Syrian Computer Society
• Mr. Fadi Ghanem, General Director of Al-Assad National Library
• Dr. Issa Al-Assafin, President of the Syrian Library and Documentation Association

Representing the IFLA MENA Committee were:

• Dr. Saif Al-Jabri, Chair of the Committee (Oman)
• Dr. Hasna Askhita (Syria)
• Mr. Waleed Al-Badi (Oman)

Participants included nominees from the Ministry of Culture, the Ministry of Education, Al-Assad National Library, the Syrian Library and Documentation Association, Damascus University, and Tishreen University in Latakia.

The workshop aimed to train trainers on methods for evaluating and demonstrating the impact of library services using a logical model centered on meeting community needs. It covered the logical model for designing library information services based on a general study of community needs. Key topics included methods for conducting data collection surveys to provide services that align perfectly with the target community, monitoring outputs, measuring performance, and the relationship between decision-makers and libraries by showcasing the libraries’ impact on society. The workshop also focused on how libraries can use this data to increase the impact of their services in the community and how librarians can share success stories with others (community, decision-makers). It included various group exercises, team-based activities, and highlighted library success stories from around the world in achieving sustainable development goals, as published on the IFLA Library Map of the World.

This workshop was part of the strategic plan implementation of the IFLA MENA Regional Committee, aimed at building the capacities of professionals at the regional level.