Comments
Written comments provide another avenue for determining priorities and concerns. Survey respondents who take the time to write often do so to express what is important to them.
Nearly half of all surveys contained written comments. These comments provide rich context and meaning to survey data.
Many were very positive about the libraries. Comments were written most often about services - hours, circulation-access issues, reference and instruction,
and computerized access to information resources. Undergraduates also commented extensively on facilities... not surprising for the group that spends the most time in our libraries.
The chart below shows percentages by category for those surveys which had written comments. For example, 43% of the graduate surveys which had written comments mentioned hours.
- Comments by category (as a percentage of surveys with written comments):
-
| Faculty | Grad Students | Undergrads |
|---|
| 1995 | 1992 | 1995 | 1992 | 1995 | 1992 |
| Circulation-Access | 19% | (34%) | 26% | (40%) | 18% | (19%) |
| Collections | 19% | (18%) | 10% | (20%) | 7% | (15%) |
| Equipment | 14% | - | 23% | - | 22% | - |
| Facilities | 19% | (11%) | 17% | (19%) | 29% | (40%) |
| Hours of opening | 20% | (13%) | 43% | (36%) | 48% | (12%) |
| Miscellaneous | 17% | - | 11% | - | 12% | - |
| Services | 29% | (25%) | 29% | (26%) | 26% | (21%) |
| Staff | 12% | (16%) | 12% | (13%) | 12% | (20%) |
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12 Mar 96