Evaluating Usage and Impact of Networked Electronic Resources through Point-of-Use Surveys: A MINES for Libraries™ Study

This article presents a literature review of methods for evaluating serials, or networked electronic resources, usage, and focuses on point-of-use intercept Web surveys. In the context of the MINES for Libraries protocol administered by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and derived from the indirect cost study methodologies developed by Franklin and Plum, the article discusses a variety of point-of-use Web survey implementation methodologies used in libraries. It discusses sampling plan options and articulates issues related to the mandatory and optional versions of the point-of-use Web survey protocols with an emphasis on nonresponse bias. The article provides a set of methods that libraries can use to continue to evaluate their networked electronic services in innovative ways to better serve the research, teaching, and learning needs of their users.     

Statistical Survey to Determine Availability of Cataloging Copy on OCLC

This paper reports the results of a year-long survey conducted at the University of Pittsburgh (Pitt) to determine what level of cataloging copy (Library of Congress, member input, or none) is present on OCLC at the time an item is received in Technical Services and after a six-month waiting period. These results were used to divert selected monographs from the normal workflow in order to expedite their cataloging and to release needed shelf space for other items.     

Finding the Answers to Legal Questions: A How-To-Do-It Manual. Tucker,Virginia, and Lampson,Marc

Abstract

In an effort toward establishing a standard for academic library hours, this article surveys and compares hours of operation and service for ARL libraries and IPEDS survey respondents. The article ranks the ARL libraries according to hours of operation and reference hours and then briefly discusses such issues as libraries offering twenty-four hour access and factors affecting service hour decisions.     

Current and Future Print Storage for Australian Academic Libraries: Results of a Survey

This paper reports on the results of a 2007 survey of Australian academic libraries and their practice with regard to the storage and disposal of legacy print material. The survey was undertaken in the wake of similar surveys in the United States and the United Kingdom, and with a view to assess the likely future demand for storage space. The discussion focuses on the advantages of a national print repository based on ceded ownership.     

Assessment of Customer Service in Academic Health Care Libraries (ACSAHL): an instrument for measuring customer service

OBJECTIVES: In a pilot study, the library had good results using SERVQUAL, a respected and often-used instrument for measuring customer satisfaction. The SERVQUAL instrument itself, however, received some serious and well-founded criticism from the respondents to our survey. The purpose of this study was to test the comparability of the results of SERVQUAL with a revised and shortened instrument modeled on SERVQUAL. The revised instrument, the Assessment of Customer Service in Academic Health Care Libraries (ACSAHL), was designed to better assess customer service in academic health care libraries. METHODS: Surveys were sent to clients who had used the document delivery services at three academic medical libraries in Texas over the previous twelve to eighteen months. ACSAHL surveys were sent exclusively to clients at University of Texas (UT) Southwestern, while the client pools at the two other institutions were randomly divided and provided either SERVQUAL or ACSAHL surveys. RESULTS: Results indicated that more respondents preferred the shorter ACSAHL instrument to the longer and more complex SERVQUAL instrument. Also, comparing the scores from both surveys indicated that ACSAHL elicited comparable results. CONCLUSIONS: ACSAHL appears to measure the same type of data in similar settings, but additional testing is recommended both to confirm the survey's results through data replication and to investigate whether the instrument applies to different service areas.     

Editor's introduction

This article brings together results from a number of separate studies carried out in 2004 and 2005 analysing the results of user surveys in UK academic libraries. Results from four LibQUAL?+?? surveys and six surveys based on a template available from the Society of College, National and University Libraries are compared. Several common themes emerging from the analyses are examined, including differences in response rates and library behaviour between the various user groups, and the relative importance of a range of library services. Discrepancies between the responses of library staff and their users in areas such as the provision of information resources are noted. Associations between campus libraries and subject disciplines are likely to influence interpretation of survey results within institutions. There are similarities in the overall picture of user behaviour provided by both survey instruments. The implications for service development and delivery are discussed and a pilot benchmarking study reported.     

Development of methodologic tools for planning and managing library services. II. Measuring a library's capability for providing documents

A method of measuring a library's capability for providing the documents its users need has been developed. The library is tested with a representative sample of such documents to determine how long would be required for users to obtain these documents. Test results are expressed in terms of a Capability Index, which has a maximal value of 100 only if all the sample documents are found "on shelf." Specific tests employing samples of 300 documents have been developed that are appropriate for academic and for "reservoir" biomedical libraries. Realistic field trials have demonstrated that these two tests are practical to administer and that test results are adequately reproducible. When strict comparability is not important, a library can test itself. In assessing a reservoir library, test results are supplemented by data on its typical processing time for interlibrary loan requests. Currently these tests are being used in a national survey. The general method is applicable to other types of libraries, provided appropriate test samples are established. If their limitations are clearly understood, these "Document Delivery Tests" can be valuable tools for planning and managing library services.     

LEARNERS’ DEMANDS AND EXPECTATIONS FOR SPACE IN A UNIVERSITY LIBRARY: OUTCOMES FROM A SURVEY AT LOUGHBOROUGH UNIVERSITY1

In this era of e-learning, open-learning and distance learning in the electronic environment, it is interesting to note that library physical space is being given much consideration and thought in higher education institutions. If space is to be provided in an appropriate and welcoming manner, then it is imperative to develop a better understanding of learners’ expectations and needs. In order to provide this intelligence, a major user survey was undertaken at Loughborough University Library in March 2006 of learners’ perceptions of library space. Different kinds of space are provided in the Loughborough University Library, including large group study areas, group study rooms, individual carrels, silence subject floors and personal computer suites. Aspects explored in the survey were how often different library spaces were used as well as the important factors identified when choosing specific space. A further focus was to identify the reasons why library space was used (as well as not used). Further examinations took place of learners’ perceptions of the different space categories. This paper presents the outcomes of the survey (which benefited from over 400 responses). The survey has provided invaluable insight into such issues as noisy versus quiet learning, nature of personal computer access in libraries, importance levels of different factors (such as physical environment and access to library staff) and the role of print (books and journals) in library space. The paper concludes by describing how the survey results have influenced Loughborough University Library future space use. The wider implications for the sector will also be described.     

Measuring Public Opinions About Surveys

Respondent's opinions about survey research are regarded asan expression at the individual level of the general survey-takingclimate. Based on a review of the research about ‘surveyson surveys’ five relevant dimensions of the respondent'sopinion about surveys are distinguished: survey enjoyment, surveyvalue, survey cost, survey reliability, and survey privacy.Items related to these aspects are used to develop an ‘Opinionsabout Survey Scale’. The results of an analysis of thepredictive validity of the scale support the expectations basedon the theory of planned behavior. Opinions about surveys areassociated with the intention to participate in future surveysand with hesitation to fill out the questionnaire of a mailsurvey. Opinions are not related with participation in a follow-upmail survey. The results of the wave analysis of a mail surveyare a clear indication that nonrespondents have more negativeopinions about different aspects of surveys. This also meansthat the measurement of opinions is biased. However, becauseof this bias it is worthwhile and useful to measure these opinions.     

STABILITY OF SCALE QUALITY UNDER VARIOUS DATA COLLECTION PROCEDURES: A MODE COMPARISON ON THE 'DE JONG-GIERVELD LONELINESS SCALE

Data collection procedures can influence respondents' self-disclosure,accuracy and motivation to complete the interview. In comparingresearch results across different studies, it is important touse robust measuring instruments. The ‘De Jong-GierveldLoneliness Scale’ was developed to measure lonelinessamong different populations and in studies with different designs.Data on this loneliness scale were re-analyzed to investigatethe robustness of the scale. The data were from six Dutch surveys.Different interview modes were used for data collection: threesurveys with self-administered paper questionnaires, two surveyswith face-to-face interviews, and one telephone survey. In orderto compare the properties of the loneliness scale, a relativelyhomogeneous category of respondents was selected: single womenbetween the ages of 25 and 65. An examination of the scale withregard to five aspects of robustness showed in very few casesthat it was affected. No evidence was found for the assumptionthat the use of a self-administered questionnaire would leadto high item non-response, any higher than using other datacollection procedures. It was also assumed that in self-administeredquestionnaires or telephone interviews, a better inter-itemhomogeneity and a better person scalability would be found instudies with face-to-face interviews. The results sustainedthis hypothesis. Further, it was believed that the absence ofan interviewer would result in greater self-disclosure and thereforein higher scale means. We found on evidence to support this.In general the results showed that the loneliness scale metthe psychometric requirements of items non-response, scale homogenityand person scalability. After testing the robustness of thescale, we conclude that it is questionable on two aspects: theinter-item homogeneity and the person scalability.     

CALIS三期学科馆员素养培训项目成效调研分析

基于CALIS三期学科馆员培训项目中对学员满意度的调研,详细论述了调研方案的设计,并依据调研结果对学科馆员素养培训成效进行了分析,最后对学科馆员素养培训提出了改进建议。     

CALLS三期学科馆员素养培训项目成效调研分析

基于CALIS三期学科馆员培训项目中对学员满意度的调研,详细论述了调研方案的设计,并依据调研结果对学科馆员素养培训成效进行了分析,最后对学科馆员素养培训提出了改进建议.     

网络环境下科技图书馆馆舍空间合理利用研究——以中国科学院国家科学图书馆为例

论文从中国科学院国家科学图书馆的特殊地位、馆藏资源不断增加、馆藏空间面临巨大压力的视角出发，分析馆藏空间合理利用的必要性；提出从优化期刊排架管理、增加密集书库面积、合理布局藏书、合理剔旧等五个方面进行调整，以缓解架位紧张的问题；同时，还提出分流馆藏的两种方案。     

Aggregating broadband demand: Surveying the benefits and challenges for public libraries

Public libraries in the United States play an important role in their communities by providing free internet access to all residents. Research exists that discusses public library connectivity by investigating funding, technical aspects, and library mission, and that also promotes membership in regional or state consortia as a means of making broadband internet connections more affordable. The research discussed here builds upon these works by asking the question: Do the benefits of aggregation, or pooling demand, justify the investment of state library resources in establishing and maintaining a library cooperative to support internet access? It reports on a survey of Indiana public library directors on questions related to connectivity, E-rate funding, and participation in the Public Library Internet Consortium, a statewide cooperative established by the Indiana State Library. The survey was conducted by Dr. Mary Alice Ball, who was affiliated with Indiana University School of Library and Information Science, Indianapolis while conducting the relevant research. Dr. Ball chairs the Telecommunications Subcommittee of the American Library Association's Office for Information Technology Policy.     

Public Libraries and the Internet 2012: Key Findings,Recent Trends,and Future Challenges

Since 1994, 14 reliable national studies have provided longitudinal data revealing and analyzing trends in the public access computing, Internet access, and technology assistance and training that public libraries make available to the communities they serve. This article provides an overview of selected data from the 2012 study; examines major issues that have emerged from the data in the most recent studies; identifies key trends and changes in Internet-enabled services and resources provided by public libraries to their communities over the course of the 18 years of conducting the national surveys; and discusses selected future issues and challenges regarding public library Internet-enabled services.     

Measuring Exposure to Direct-to-Consumer Advertising: A Validation Study in the Context of Cancer-Related Treatment Advertising

This research examines two recurrent conceptual issues of measuring media exposure in survey research—content specificity of survey items and whether exemplars should be provided to aid recall. In two population-based surveys, we evaluated three candidate measures of cancer patients’ self-reported exposure to cancer-related direct-to-consumer advertising (CR-DTCA); these measures varied in content specificity and provision of ad exemplars. All three measures performed equally well in terms of internal consistency, convergent, nomological, and discriminant validity. Increased content specificity or ad exemplars did not improve performance of the exposure measures. Participants were able to extrapolate from ad exemplars to report their exposure to broad categories of CR-DTCA. The briefest of the three measures posed the lowest level of survey costs and was deployed successfully for mailed and internet-based survey administration. We discussed future directions for application of these findings in DTCA research for other illness and for media exposure research more generally.     

网络环境下高校图书馆的读者调查方式

网络环境下,图书馆读者调查方法有了新的变化,主要方式有:网站问卷调查、基于视频会议系统的读者调查、基于数据库检索技术的读者调查和基于Web挖掘技术的读者调查。网络环境下高校图书馆读者调查的策略是:依靠主动调查,重视网站调查,建立完备的调查体系。图1。表1。参考文献5。     

Initiating Cultural Shifts in Perceptions of Cataloging Units through Interaction Assessment

Points of contact formulate the culture of any organization and shape the perceptions of decision makers and colleagues alike. This research project investigated the interactions between Cataloging and Metadata Services staff and other library employees by analyzing interactions. This article summarizes the results of data gathered from interaction assessments and compares them with surveys about the current perceptions of the cataloging unit at the Utah State University Libraries. It discusses the ways these results have influenced existing unit workflows to enhance awareness of cataloging and metadata contributions to the library and posits possible ways to continue such initiatives moving forward.     

制订《普通高等学校图书馆评估指标》的相关问题探讨

探讨了高校图书馆评估指标制订过程中涉及的评估目的、评价指标体系构建方法和考量指标选择等问题,并对图书馆定位与服务体系建设模式、读者反馈与评价、指标定量与定性、图书馆绩效评价等相关问题进行了讨论。     

Library instruction in the 1990s: A comparison with trends in two earlier LOEX surveys

In the fall of 1995, LOEX undertook a survey of library instruction practices. We did this to survey current practices and to compare the results with two previous LOEX surveys done in 1979 and in 1987. These surveys were reported on in articles published in 1980 and in 1989.¹