Location
Paper Session 3: Keeping Up with and Ahead of Trends
Start Date
27-10-2018 4:24 PM
End Date
27-10-2018 4:39 PM
Type of Work
Presentation
Description
Objective: To find simple, fast, and easy ways to assess library users’ needs and to get real-time responses in order to shorten the interval between deploying surveys, gathering responses and implementation of solutions. In the past the library employed email surveys to assess user needs but the process was inefficient and ineffective due to low response rates and time spent creating online surveys. Methods: The library team began using paper “micro-assessments” to understand users’ needs. Short paper surveys of no more than five questions, were deployed at three different times throughout the academic year: (1) Medical students were handed surveys during one of the library’s weekly events about their use of library-issued iPads; (2) Surveys were left on each study space in the library quiet room over the course of one week asking about students’ opinions on food being allowed in the library quiet room; (3) Faculty were handed surveys during departmental meetings to assess their interest in scholarly publishing topics. Completed surveys were collected and results were tabulated the same day. Results: Results of the student iPad micro-assessment helped librarians understand students’ use of library-issued iPads. Feedback from the second student survey informed policy decisions in regards to allowing food in the library quiet room. Finally, results of the faculty micro-assessments led to the development of short presentations on scholarly communication topics, delivered by librarians during faculty departmental meetings, as well as one-on-one EndNote training sessions and a Getting Published Workshop.
Keeping Up with Trends in Your Library: Simple and Speedy Ways to Assess Users’ Needs
Paper Session 3: Keeping Up with and Ahead of Trends
Objective: To find simple, fast, and easy ways to assess library users’ needs and to get real-time responses in order to shorten the interval between deploying surveys, gathering responses and implementation of solutions. In the past the library employed email surveys to assess user needs but the process was inefficient and ineffective due to low response rates and time spent creating online surveys. Methods: The library team began using paper “micro-assessments” to understand users’ needs. Short paper surveys of no more than five questions, were deployed at three different times throughout the academic year: (1) Medical students were handed surveys during one of the library’s weekly events about their use of library-issued iPads; (2) Surveys were left on each study space in the library quiet room over the course of one week asking about students’ opinions on food being allowed in the library quiet room; (3) Faculty were handed surveys during departmental meetings to assess their interest in scholarly publishing topics. Completed surveys were collected and results were tabulated the same day. Results: Results of the student iPad micro-assessment helped librarians understand students’ use of library-issued iPads. Feedback from the second student survey informed policy decisions in regards to allowing food in the library quiet room. Finally, results of the faculty micro-assessments led to the development of short presentations on scholarly communication topics, delivered by librarians during faculty departmental meetings, as well as one-on-one EndNote training sessions and a Getting Published Workshop.