A Framework for Selecting Program Evaluation Technologies in Libraries Across Stages of M&E Practice Evolution

Academic libraries are increasingly expanding their missions beyond traditional educational and informational support to include entrepreneurship, innovation, digital literacy, research training, and community engagement programs. As these roles diversify, the need for systematic monitoring and evaluation (M&E) has become essential for demonstrating value, informing decision-making, and strengthening institutional learning. Based on consulting experiences and collaborative work with M&E experts, librarians engaged in evaluation practice, and software engineers who develop end-user technologies, this paper proposes a comprehensive framework for program evaluation technology selection and identifies three stages of M&E practice evolution—Early, Development, and Maturity. The framework distinguishes between functional and nonfunctional selection criteria, enabling libraries to select technologies that align with their M&E needs, library and evaluation context as per their M&E maturity stage. Future research will extend the application of this program evaluation technology framework for different program evaluation technologies across multiple libraries and service types to validate its scalability and adaptability, promoting shared learning and a sector-wide culture of continuous improvement, innovation, and data-driven decision-making.