Results of the Student Survey of Library Services, Spring 2007 This report summarizes the results of the student survey of library services administered as a classroom survey between May 16, 2007 and June 1, 2007. Eleven course sections were included in a random sample of sections; responses were received from all eleven sections. The total number of students responding to the survey was 155. The report below summarizes student responses to each of the survey items. Item 1. What is your gender? Female 102 66% Male 53 34% Total Non-Missing 155 100% Item 2. Are you taking credit or noncredit classes this semester? Credit classes only 137 91% Noncredit classes only 3 2% Both credit and noncredit 11 7% Total Non-Missing 151 100% Item 3. Are you taking day or evening classes this semester? Day classes only 49 33% Evening classes only 50 33% Day and evening classes 51 34% Total Non-Missing 150 100% Item 4. How many units are you taking this semester? 0 to 6 26 17% 7 to 11 49 32% 12 or more 76 50% Total Non-Missing 151 100% 1
Item 5. How often have you visited the library in person this semester? Eighty percent of students report using the library. The largest group of students (24%) report using the library 2 to 3 times per week. The graph shows the percentage of all respondents, day-only students, evening-only students, part-time students, and full-time students who report using the library on a daily or weekly basis (once a week or 2-3 times per week), a monthly basis (once a month or 2-3 times per month), or do not use the library. Day-only students and full-time students are more likely to use the library on a daily or weekly basis than evening-only and part-time students. I use the library daily 10 7% I use the library 2-3 times per week 36 24% I use the library once a week 21 14% I use the library 2-3 times per month 31 21% I use the library once a month 22 15% I don t use the library 30 20% Total Non-Missing 150 100% Item 6. How often have you used the library website this semester (to use article databases, search for books, sign up for library workshops, to find the hours the library is open, etc.)? About 60% of respondents report using the library website. As the table below shows, approximately equal-sized groups of students use the website 2 to 3 times per week, 2 to 3 times per month, and once per month. The graph shows self-reported visits to the library website for different student groups. Evening-only students are more likely to use the website than day-only students. Frequent library users are more likely to use the library website than students who do not use the library in person. 2
I use the website once a day 5 3% I use the website 2-3 times a week 22 15% I use the website once a week 14 9% I use the website 2-3 times per month 23 15% I use the website once a month 27 18% I don t use the library website 59 39% Total Non-Missing 150 100% Item 7. Is the library open enough hours for your study and research needs? Most students (70%) believe the library is open sufficient hours. As the graph below shows, dayonly students, full-time students, and monthly users of the library are more likely than other groups to agree that the library is open enough hours. Frequent library users are less likely to report that the library is open enough hours than less frequent library users. Yes 98 70% No 43 30% Total Non-Missing 141 100% 3
Students made the following comments in response to item 7: Until 10! And same time on weekends too. Saturday and Friday (more time). It should be open longer hours. Maybe it is open about two hours more in one day. Sundays. I can go to the library at night only. Close early weekdays and Saturday; close on Sunday. I've used the library in my previous semesters. Don't need it. Taking evening classes. They close too early. Evening and weekend hours should be extended. It is closed 8:00 pm. It doesn't open enough. On the weekend, library should open for more hours. Good hours. I think it would help if it was open a little later, not just during finals week. I wish it stayed open later or opened earlier. I used the library only once. They are open for good hours. It's good. Sometimes I even study there. Sundays! Library is not open early or late enough during final examination period. It should be open later. The library should be open til 9:00 or 10 pm not just during finals but all the time. The weekend hours need to be extended! Should be open until 10 pm Sundays. Many people need it to be open on weekends after 10 pm. More hours needed on Saturday. I wouldn't know, I don't use this library. I understand weekends are difficult to accommodate, but longer hours on weekends would help out. Need more weekend hours. Should be open later, maybe until 10. If they can make it until 10:00 pm, it will be very nice. No, for evening students, not open late enough. Saturday, the library close 4:30 pm. Helps to concentrate on your work. But it would be better if it were open some time on weekends. 4
Item 8. If the library were open on Sunday, would you use it? A slight majority of respondents (53%) report that they would use the library if it were open on Sunday. As the graph below shows, evening-only students, full-time students, and frequent library users are more likely to report that they would use the library on Sunday than other student groups. Yes 79 53% No 71 47% Total Non-Missing 150 100% If yes, what Sunday hours would be best? The table below and the graphs on the following page show that students tend to be most positive about the hours of noon to 4:00 pm on Sundays. However, frequent library users do not show much preference, and students reporting that they do not use the library prefer the hours of 10:00 am to 2:00 pm. 8 am to noon 9 17% 10 am to 2 pm 14 27% Noon to 4 pm 19 37% 4 pm to 8 pm 10 19% Total Non-Missing 52 100% 5
6 Library Survey, Spring 2007
Students made the following comments in response to item 8 s question about other hours: 12 to 5. 8 am to 8 pm. 10 to 4 pm. 10 to 5. 10:00 to 4:00. 10 am to 5 pm. 10 am to 10 pm. 8 to 8 pm. 10 am to 10 pm. 8 to 2 Saturday and Sunday. Afternoon. Afternoon - definitely! 8 to 2 pm. 10 am to 7 pm. 9 to 6. 10 am to 8 pm. 11 to 5. Open at 7:00 am. 12:00 to 4:00. Item 9. Are there enough resources (books, reserve materials, periodicals, CDs, computers) for your study and research needs? Most students (83%) report that the library offers sufficient resources for their study and research needs. Part-time students were somewhat less positive about library resources than were other student groups. Yes 113 83% No 23 17% Total Non-Missing 136 100% Students made the following comments in response to item 9: Some CD player or VCD or DVD player. Not enough computers. 7
I have no idea, but I'm guessing not. Have never gone in to check out a book. Great database. The library computers need Microsoft Word or some program to write essays other than WordPad which sucks. "Tango" - I had to use another source. There are enough resources. It's really good. More CDs. Only found 2 books on Zoroastrainism. More computers - people hog them. Do not let one person keep the library books more than 2 weeks because other people want to use it too. More specific resources needed. Item 10. The library is considering providing access to audiobooks you can download onto your computer, ipod, or other portable device. Would you be interested in downloading audiobooks? Students are interested in downloading audiobooks. Evening-only students and frequent library users are particularly positive about downloading audiobooks. Students are most interested in downloading audiobooks on language studies and non-fiction audiobooks, as the graphs on the next two pages show. Yes 106 73% No 39 27% Total Non-Missing 145 100% 8
If yes, please indicate all of the types of audiobooks you would be interested in downloading and listening to. Classical fiction (authors such as Mark Twain and Victor Hugo) Popular fiction (including best-sellers and award winning authors) Language studies (learn to speak foreign languages and ESL) Non-fiction (including biographies, business, history, humanities, sciences and more) Yes Respondents Answering Yes 43 41% 48 45% 65 61% 65 61% Note that in the table above the percentage column does not sum to 100% because respondents could mark more than one choice. 9
10 Library Survey, Spring 2007
Item 11. Which electronic resources available through the GCC library have you used? 11
Item 12. Have you attended any of the library s workshops? Forty-five percent of respondents report attending a library workshop. Day-only students and nonusers of the library are less likely to report attending a library workshop than other student groups. Yes 65 45% No 80 55% Total Non-Missing 145 100% If yes, please rate the workshops: Library Workshops: Informative Excellent 23 36% Good 31 48% Fair 6 9% Poor 1 2% No Opinion 3 5% Total Non-Missing 64 100% The graph below shows the percentage of respondents with an opinion who rated the informativeness of the workshops as excellent or good. These percentages do not include students who marked no opinion so the percentage of all respondents does not match the table above. 12
Library Workshops: Useful for my class Excellent 22 35% Good 30 48% Fair 6 10% Poor 1 2% No Opinion 4 6% Total Non-Missing 63 100% Library Workshops: Scheduled at convenient times Excellent 20 32% Good 29 47% Fair 8 13% Poor 2 3% No Opinion 3 5% Total Non-Missing 62 100% 13
Students made the following comments in response to item 12: Very brief and useful, they don't waste your time. It's good. I was forced to take it. It wasn't new to me. Need to have certain ones more often because they get filled fast. Two out of three were wonderful, one instructor, she just didn't inform me really. The scheduled time I had for the workshop was okay, but since I was a minute late, the door was locked. A lot of people use the internet and don't pay attention to the workshop. Item 13. Would further instruction in using the library and its resources help you? A majority of respondents (65%) indicate that further instruction in using library resources would be helpful. Day-only students, full-time students, and frequent library users are more interested in further instruction than other groups. The most frequent choice of format is the online workshop. Yes 85 65% No 46 35% Total Non-Missing 131 100% 14
How would you prefer to learn library research skills? Mark all that apply. More handouts/research guides 32 21% Research appointments with librarians 24 15% Workshop sessions in the library 35 23% Online workshop sessions 119 77% Semester-length credit classes 14 9% 8-week credit classes 10 6% Late start 10-week credit classes 9 6% Online credit classes 25 16% Note that in the table above the percentage column does not sum to 100% because respondents could mark more than one choice. 15
16 Library Survey, Spring 2007
Students made the following comments in response to item 13: Definitely not classes, students will not come, and the point is to make these students who are not aware of the services know what the library offers. People are too lazy and busy to attend these workshops. The only reason I attended one was because it was required by one of my professors. 17
Item 14. What topics would you like to be covered by a library workshop? Mark all that apply. Students tend to be more interested in citation styles and research in specific disciplines than in intellecutal property, copyright, and plagiarism. MLA and/or APA citation styles 86 55% Intellectual property, copyright, and 46 30% plagiarism Research in specific disciplines (Psychology, Biology, Health, etc.) 64 41% Note that in the table above the percentage column does not sum to 100% because respondents could mark more than one choice. 18
Students made the following comments in response to item 14: Accounting. How to transition paragraphs. Helpful workshop would be on how to write a good art research paper. Library website information use, research. More MLA and APA should be covered in workshops. Also, workshops in research in specific subjects would be helpful. 19
Item 15. Please rate the library in the following areas. Reference Staff: Approachable Excellent 43 33% Good 57 44% Fair 13 10% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 14 11% Total Non-Missing 129 100% Reference Staff: Knowledgeable Excellent 51 40% Good 54 42% Fair 8 6% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 13 10% Total Non-Missing 128 100% 20
Reference Staff: Interested in helping me Excellent 54 41% Good 40 31% Fair 22 17% Poor 1 1% No Opinion 14 11% Total Non-Missing 131 100% Circulation/Reserve Staff: Approachable Excellent 44 37% Good 38 32% Fair 20 17% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 16 13% Total Non-Missing 120 100% 21
Circulation/Reserve Staff: Knowledgeable Excellent 40 35% Good 41 35% Fair 15 13% Poor 2 5% No Opinion 17 12% Total Non-Missing 115 100% Circulation/Reserve Staff: Helpful Excellent 42 37% Good 36 31% Fair 18 16% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 17 15% Total Non-Missing 115 100% 22
Library Services: Circulation/Reserve Excellent 35 29% Good 41 34% Fair 17 14% Poor 5 4% No Opinion 22 18% Total Non-Missing 120 100% Library Services: Interlibrary Loan Excellent 25 22% Good 35 30% Fair 19 17% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 34 30% Total Non-Missing 115 100% 23
Library Services: Reference Services Excellent 27 23% Good 50 42% Fair 19 16% Poor 0 0% No Opinion 24 20% Total Non-Missing 120 100% Library Services: Library orientation & workshops Excellent 36 30% Good 41 34% Fair 12 10% Poor 2 2% No Opinion 30 25% Total Non-Missing 121 100% 24
Students made the following comments in response to item 15: Good staff, very informative. Staff should be more approachable and willing to help students more, smile more. Item 16. Please rate the library s physical condition in these areas. In general, students have positive opinions of the library s physical condition. As the graph shows, students are most positive about the lighting and the tables in the library. They are least positive about the copy center and the library s computers. 25
Physical Condition: Study cubicles Excellent 34 29% Good 45 38% Fair 28 24% Poor 8 7% No Opinion 4 3% Total Non-Missing 119 100% Physical Condition: Tables Excellent 37 29% Good 54 43% Fair 24 19% Poor 4 3% No Opinion 7 6% Total Non-Missing 126 100% 26
Physical Condition: Chairs Excellent 34 27% Good 48 38% Fair 32 25% Poor 5 4% No Opinion 7 6% Total Non-Missing 126 100% Physical Condition: Study rooms Excellent 29 23% Good 51 40% Fair 32 25% Poor 6 5% No Opinion 9 7% Total Non-Missing 127 100% 27
Physical Condition: Temperature Excellent 28 22% Good 48 38% Fair 36 28% Poor 7 5% No Opinion 9 7% Total Non-Missing 128 100% Physical Condition: Lighting Excellent 41 31% Good 56 43% Fair 22 17% Poor 6 5% No Opinion 6 5% Total Non-Missing 131 100% 28
Physical Condition: Noise levels Excellent 24 20% Good 56 47% Fair 27 23% Poor 4 3% No Opinion 7 6% Total Non-Missing 118 100% Physical Condition: Computers Excellent 30 24% Good 39 31% Fair 26 21% Poor 15 12% No Opinion 14 11% Total Non-Missing 124 100% 29
Physical Condition: Wireless Excellent 25 20% Good 43 35% Fair 20 16% Poor 4 3% No Opinion 30 25% Total Non-Missing 122 100% Physical Condition: Copy center Excellent 22 18% Good 37 31% Fair 31 26% Poor 9 8% No Opinion 20 17% Total Non-Missing 119 100% 30
Physical Condition: Cleanliness Excellent 34 27% Good 51 41% Fair 26 21% Poor 4 3% No Opinion 9 7% Total Non-Missing 124 100% Physical Condition: Restrooms Excellent 28 22% Good 45 35% Fair 30 24% Poor 6 5% No Opinion 18 14% Total Non-Missing 127 100% 31
Item 17. Please make any comments or suggestions that will help us improve the services, resources, and facilities at the library. Students made the following comments in response to item 17: When we want to transfer for other student we can and no charge for first time we took book. Good. Thank you for being for us. It is not fair to charge the student for first time, even for their first time. Library is a quiet place where I like to study. Attending the library is helpful and interesting. It is good place for studying. Everything is on high level. I don't have any comments. Sometimes too cold. Have more seats for the people to come in and study. It's good already! Make students more aware of services offered by library. Location is too far. I was a student here two years ago, then I transferred to UCLA, but I am graduating in June and thus am getting a head start on my CPA requirements. I hardly use the library. But I spend a lot of time in my car and the audiobooks seem like a great idea. Maybe you can team up with some of the English professors and put some of them on reserve. At busy times during the day, there aren't enough group seating areas. I like the library. It has great services for my English classes. Lighting is inconsistent in cubicles, power also inconsistent. Study rooms 1) need more, 2) for larger groups. I cannot make too much of an opinion having only used the study rooms once and the circulation/reserve desk once. More study rooms. The library should open on Sunday and offer more hours. More silence in the library. Need more lighting so students won't fall asleep. Computers need Microsoft Word. Please block the space MySpace from the Internet. Some people take up space to look at MySpace and we have to look for computers. More computers, better computers - too hot or too cold in there. Not enough study rooms available. No comments other than I like the overall atmosphere of our school library. The temperature in the study room is too hot. The rest of the library has a good temperature. Open on weekend 8 to 2. More books. It's all good. (Copy center should be free.) Being open on Sundays would help a lot. I don't like the cubicle chairs because they rock backwards if you lean back. It's a bit unnerving. There are often not enough places to work. Also there is graffiti in the cubicles. It would be great if you add Sunday access. The chairs are uncomfortable. More computers forstudent use, email per student, guidelines for specific look up info available. The temperature in the library is always very low. Restrooms are not clean. Computers are slow. Not enough study rooms. Too noisy during the day. I will definitely use the GCC library every time I need to do so. More textbooks, a long-term reserve book. The library workshop times need to be more convenient for students who work and can only attend a workshop in the evening or (?). I do not appreciate the fact that on 5/20 I got to the 32
library and per GCC time I was on time and the door was locked because the workshop instructor believed in military time. As she saw me knocking on the window, she smiled, turned her head and paid no attention to me for being 1 minute late. Very upset at the (?) and this issue needs to be addressed. Use the computer for other reason not only research like email. I'd like to see some changes and new knowledge brought to the library workshops. I attended 3 of them, only the 1st one is useful and the other two are just talking about the same stuff. According to the title they are 3 completely different topics, though. Improve computers in library. Man, school is too stressful. 33