UNIVERSITY OF WASHINGTON LIBRARIES

 

SPRING 1995 LIBRARY USE SURVEYS                                   

INITIAL RESULTS AND ANALYSIS

 

PREPARED FOR FACULTY COUNCIL ON UNIVERSITY LIBRARIES MEETING ON 23 OCTOBER 1995

 

 

BACKGROUND AND CONTEXT

 

Library use surveys were sent in May 1995 to all faculty, and a random sample of graduate and undergraduate students. Nearly 1400 faculty returned the surveys (31%) as well as 409 graduate students (41%) and almost 500 undergraduates (25%).  Survey results revealed that users are very satisfied with library services and ready  for the transition to the electronic library.

 

The last general library use survey was done in May 1992. The composition of the faculty respondents changed significantly from 1992 as the proportion from from Health Sciences increased from 33.5% to 47.6%.  The 1995 figure is a more accurate representation of the Health Sciences percentage than in 1992.  However, the composition of the graduate and professional student group changed little from 1992.   When grouped into large categories such as Science-Engineering, Health Sciences, Social Sciences, Humanities-Fine Arts, it was very representative of actual enrollment reported for Spring 1995. 

These are initial results.  We have not done any significant statistical analysis or cross correlation’s.  We have just begun to code and enter written comments from the surveys.  The latter will be very important in adding context to the survey data.

FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE VERY SATISFIED WITH THE UW LIBRARIES

Libraries are very well regarded and play a significant role in research and education.  Overall satisfaction levels were quite high.  Using  a scale of 1 (not satisfied) to 5 (very satisfied):

 

     Nearly 90% of faculty and graduate students and 80% of undergraduates marked 4 or 5

     Less than 1% of faculty and graduate students and 1.5% of undergrads marked 1 or 2

 

Satisfaction levels were higher  than in 1992 (where a 3 scale ranking was used). 

 

LIBRARIES ARE USED EXTENSIVELY

 

99% of faculty and graduate students and 97% of undergraduates noted that they used the library during the past academic year (similar to 1992 results).  70% of faculty use the Libraries at least weekly, with faculty in the Social Sciences ranking highest at 86% weekly. 

 

Faculty use libraries differently than students:

 

While 70% of faculty (including teaching and research associates) use the Libraries at least weekly, more do so by remote access than physically visit the library.  Among those faculty who use libraries at least weekly (respondents could choose more than one category):

 

·     60% do so from an office computer

·     40% physically visit the libraries

·     25% use a home computer 

 

The student percentages are reversed with 60% reporting weekly in-person visits, and 35% to 40% using library services remotely.  Undergraduate students, in particular, see the Libraries as a “place”.

Among those who visit the Libraries at least weekly:

 

·     More than 90% of faculty do so for research compared to  85% of graduate students and 45% of undergraduates

·     30% of faculty visit for course-related activities compared to 53% of graduate students and 60% of undergraduates

·     87% of undergraduates use the libraries as a place to do work compared to 43% of graduate students and 7% of faculty

 

FACULTY AND STUDENTS ARE “CONNECTED” ELECTRONICALLY

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Nearly all faculty and most graduate and undergraduates have access to a computer that is connected to  the campus computer network.   This is a significant change from 1992:

 

·     95% of faculty use a computer with access to the campus network compared to 75% in 1992

·     88% of graduate students have such access compared to 62% in 1992

·     80% of undergraduates report having an account on a campus computer compared to 33% in 1992

 

The only group of faculty who report less than 90% connectivity are those in the Fine Arts at 71% (up from 29% in 1992).                                                                                                             

 

Computers and new information technologies have made a big difference in supporting work:

 

Among faculty:

·     60% report they are more likely to find bibliographic citations (14% are less likely)

·     56% are more likely to keep exchange information with colleagues (2% are less likely)

·     53% are more likely to keep current in their field (2% are less likely)

 

Graduate students responses were similar.  Undergraduates are also active users of networked information with 37% using Internet and WorldWide Web sources weekly  for their work.   Faculty and students can do much of their library-related work from their office or home computer.  For example, nearly 75% of faculty in the School of Medicine use library services at least weekly from an office computer, while only 35% report visiting the library on a weekly basis.  

 

Nearly 50% of faculty report they are now less likely to physically visit the library as a result of access to networked resources.  This is most pronounced in the Health Sciences, where 75% of Public Health faculty reported that they are less likely to visit the library. 

 

Electronic communication is the preferred method for being informed about library services

 

When asked which methods of communication would be most effective in keeping them informed about library services and programs:

 

Electronic mail was the preferred method for 52% of faculty and 58% of graduate students and was among the most useful for undergrads (52%). 

 

Faculty and students want training in the use of electronic “tools”

 

When asked which types of library instruction and training would be most useful, WWW/Internet training and specific database training ranked highest among each group (percentage of each group marking 5 as “most useful”):

                                                            Faculty            Grad                Undergrads

Specific database training                  27%                 30%                 36%

WWW/Internet training                       34%                 42%                 52%

 

PRIORITIES

 

Faculty and students were asked to mark their top priorities for the Libraries during the next two years from a list of 12 choices.  Priorities chosen by both faculty and students reflect the growing use of computer networking  by focusing on services that can be delivered to the desktop and office.  The priorities expressed in these surveys are congruent with the Libraries planned transition to an electronic library. The chart below shows priorities for each group and also comparisons with the 1992 survey when similar questions were asked.  However, care should be taken in comparing 1992 and 1995 results as phrasing of questions may have differed and the composition of the faculty group changed as well.  The 1992 survey asked for the top 5 priorities, while the 1995 survey just asked for top priorities.  Faculty, on average, identified one less priority in 1995 than in 1992.

     

                                                            FACULTY                     GRAD STUDENTS         UNDERGRADS

                                                            1995     1992                 1995     1992                 1995     1992

Deliver full-text to your computer  56%                              53%                              41%

Network more bibliographic databases     43%      (53%)                41%      (63%)                21%      (55%)

Provide reserve items electronically         21%                              38%                              45%

Add more library computers                    13%                              28%                              49%

Build print library collections                   27%      (70%)                22%      (63%)                19%      (52%)

Reshelve items faster and accurately       25%      (18%)                32%      (32%)                36%      (22%)

Increase library hours                             13%      (25%)                30%      (44%)                34%      (47%)

Preserve library materials                        25%      (32%)                24%      (21%)                17%      (31%)

Office delivery of books and articles         25%      (16%)                18%      (5%)                   9%                            

Provide more librarian consultation             8%                             13%                              22%

Provide more instruction and training        13%      (6%)                 21%      (10%)                30%      (26%)

Add group study/seminar rooms                4%                             11%                              34%      (36%)

 

A more detailed breakdown by academic area for faculty and graduate students is attached and shows the variation in priorities by different schools and colleges.

 

Print isn't dead however . . .

 

When asked what categories of library materials would be most useful to them during the next two years (on a 1 to 5 scale with 5 being most important), 80% of graduate students and faculty marked print journals as a "5".   All academic areas viewed print journals as critical, including 85% of Humanities faculty.   The table below shows the categories marked “5” as a percentage of each group:

 

                                                Faculty                        Grad students

Print Books                             40%                             41%

Print Journals                          81%                             80%

Electronic Journals                 33%                             38%

Journal Table of Contents       27%                             26%

Computerized Indexes            50%                             43%

 

For faculty, print books were also viewed as most important in such fields as Humanities (90%), Social Sciences and Fine Arts (85% each), while only 15% of faculty in the School of Medicine ranked books in this category.

 

NEXT STEPS

 

Additional data analysis will be done during the next few months as well as identifying areas for more focused discussion with faculty and students.  Survey results will be distributed and discussed within Libraries and also disseminated to the campus and external library communities.