October 21, 2010
Library seeks input on services through survey
CARBONDALE, Ill. -- Officials at Southern Illinois University Carbondale’s Morris Library want to find out how they are doing providing library services to patrons, and hope the results of a survey now under way will answer that question and offer a roadmap for improvements.
“We want to find out how we are doing as far as our patrons are concerned,” said Herman Peterson, head of reference and instruction for Library Services. “This survey is part of our strategic planning process.”
All University students, faculty and staff recently received an e-mail including a link that will take them to the Morris Library Service Quality Survey. The short electronic survey from the Association of Research Libraries, of which Morris Library is a member, takes only about five minutes to complete. The survey will run through Nov. 5. The greater the number of survey respondents, the more useful the survey results, officials say.
The survey allows library users to comment regarding their minimum service standards, desired service levels and what level service they perceive Morris Library currently provides in a number of areas. Those areas including availability of materials, electronic information, assistance, individual attention, quiet space, answers to questions and other assistance. The survey asks participants to rate the overall quality of service by the library and provide a little information about their usage of the library and library services.
The survey is anonymous and participation is totally voluntary. E-mail addresses separate from the surveys upon submission.
After completing the survey, students can choose to submit their name for a drawing for a $250 gift certificate from the University Bookstore while faculty and staff are eligible to participate in a drawing for one of 50 Delyte’s coffee commons gift cards or tickets to an SIUC sporting event.
Peterson said the survey will enable the library to assess services and determine how to improve.
“This also enables us to compare our results with those from other libraries and see how we are doing in comparison,” Peterson said.
For more information about the survey, e-mail libqual@lib.siu.edu or contact Peterson at hpeterso@lib.siu.edu or 618/453-7539.