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2009 LibQual Summary Overview

The summary document for the LibQual survey is presented here which outlines in detail the nature of the survey administered and the areas of functional library services and resources studied.  The results are grouped and analyzed using multiple tables and graphic charts in order to understand how patron impressions differed according to campus, undergraduate versus graduate, by discipline area and other demographics.

Forward Progress Informed by LibQual

As a result of this summary document, the Libraries have hired a consultant to better understand how to leverage the results and several meetings have taken place and more are planned oriented directly from data gathered from the survey.  Summary of areas covered during the meeting include:

• June 9th 2010:  Initial meeting of all LATOL constituencies with consultant to introduce the survey, its results and implications to library services and resources. In addition, members of the student body and faculty presented and spoke during the meeting articulating their own areas of concern regarding the libraris and to dialogue with library faculty on staff on improvements going forward.  The discussions were highly informative and provided a foundation of date for the next set of meetings.

• June 16th 2010:  Incorporating information gathered from the June 14 meeting, a small sub-group of librarians began forging a Strategic Plan with guidance from the consultant.  The resulting Strategic Plan was completed by the end of the summer and reflected areas of innovation and development for the library that were a direct outgrowth from the LibQual survey.

• December 1st, 2010:  Meeting with the consultant to understand how to structure and leverage the newly inaugurated Library Liaison program to best advantage.  Smart goals were developed as a result of the meeting to assist in creating tangible improvements in librarian outreach to the various schools.  The goals are attached here and the librarians will re-group in a future meeting to assess obstacles, issues and successes with not only the goals but the Liaison program itself.

Another meeting with the consultant is planned for February 25th, 2011 to futher continue dialogue on improving library services and functions.  The focus of the meeting will be on "Rethinking Reference" which is regard to the fuctioning of the Reference Desk services.  As a result of information from the LibQual, the libraries are determining how to best leverage our core Reference function in relation to the liaison program.  We are asking ourselves questions such as, "What is the best way to provide reference service to students who are both online and onsite" and "How can we better service students who come to the desk seeking non-reference related help such as with technical issues" 

Regarding the reference interview, we also concluded that to better improve how we categorize and track reference questions we needed different criteria for evaluating different types of questions.  To that end, the LLC librarians researched this area of librarianship and discovered several models for interview in-take and after discussion decided upon a new system.  That form is attached in this section.