Indiana university will conduct a design-based implementation research study to understand school librarians' experiences with, and needs related to the assessment of making practices and engage in an…

The Institute of Museum and Library Services awarded Indiana University $975,920 through the National Leadership Grants program (CFDA 45.312) on September 1, 2026, to conduct a design-based implementation research study on school librarians' assessment practices for maker programming.

Indiana University will lead a collaborative effort with public school librarians to develop and disseminate assessment tools, approaches, and resources tailored to school library contexts. Project activities include meetings with librarians to identify assessment needs, iterative co-design and testing of assessment supports, and dissemination of findings and tools. Deliverables will include assessment approaches and resources that librarians can adapt or develop independently to measure the process and outcomes of maker programming in their libraries. Intended beneficiaries are public school librarians, media specialists, educators, and researchers.

The three-year project runs through August 31, 2029, with performance centered in Bloomington, Indiana. The National Leadership Grants program supports projects addressing critical needs in the museum and library fields and designed to generate models, tools, research findings, services, practices, and alliances that advance professional practice and can be widely used, adapted, scaled, or replicated.

Indiana university will conduct a design-based implementation research study to understand school librarians' experiences with, and needs related to the assessment of making practices and engage in an iterative CO-design process of tools to meet these needs. Project activities include meetings with librarians to learn about their needs; CO-design and testing of possible supports; and dissemination of findings and resources. The project will result in tools and approaches appropriate for use in public school libraries and resources and supports that librarians can use to adapt or develop their own tools. Project beneficiaries include public school librarians, media specialists, educators, and researchers. The project will work collaboratively with school librarians to develop and disseminate assessment tools, approaches, and resources to support school librarians in measuring the process and outcomes of maker programming that are specifically designed to be used in and meet the unique needs in public school library spaces and contexts.