Data isn’t useful in itself, but when a library assessment strategy drives, and is driven by, the library’s vision and mission, it’s elemental to affecting change. This session will talk about building a vital assessment strategy for an academic library. Topics will include types of assessment, prerequisites for success, building a culture of assessment, determining what to measure, what not to measure, and when to stop, choosing the right instrument, common problems, and using evidence for decision making. Attendees leave with a toolkit for building and implementing an assessment strategy that matters