What's Your Opinion?

Libraries find it useful from time to time to find out from their users what's good and what's bad about their collections and their services. Last May 267 students and faculty filled out surveys for us, and a further 21 took part in four focus groups which met to discuss the issues in the survey. Here's what we found:

Use of the library
42% visit the library daily
47% come in weekly

Study space
65% prefer to study in the library rather than elsewhere
68% consider individual study space superior or good
51% consider group study space good
45% think the noise level is fair to poor

Collections
71% think the book collection is superior or good
82% find needed information "always" or "most of the time"

Most important library resources
30% printed books
16% online full-text resources
15% printed journals
13% online indexes and abstracts
8% audiovisual materials

The five "most important" services provided by the library, with ratings running from 21% to 13%: photocopiers, individual study space, reference assistance, reserve books for courses, and group study space.

And what should be our priorities? Again, in declining rank order: better photocopiers, more books, more online full-text resources, more journals, and longer library hours.

But a common refrain was expressed quite pungently by one undergraduate in an added comment: "Too much talking. Get tough on noise!"