This was the last presentation of the conference, and was delivered by Samantha Schmehl Hines of the University of Montana-Missoula to a packed room.
In preparation for launching a survey for faculty at her own institution, Samantha looked at 13 surveys of what faculty members wanted from the library (all listed in her bibliography). The response rates for these surveys were between 24-50%.
Her meta-analysis of these surveys uncovered the following findings, which you'll probably recognize from your institution as well (though she admits there's nothing statistically valid here):
Commonalities with Faculty Services
• It’s difficult to determine/reach those teaching at a distance
• There is a lack of understanding of what Info Lit is or how it can be done at a distance. Faculty feel it’s their role, not librarians’
• Faculty often suggest integration of the library and library services into courseware – discussion forums, library instruction modules, subject guides, online lectures.
• There is a lack of “time” in distant classes (Faculty don't want to give up "time" for library instruction)
• Copyright concerns – online resources, traditional resources used in the digital classroom
• Technical support – courseware, library resources
• Notification of available services/materials – they don’t use resources much themselves, but want to guide their students. Email works
• Use of the library and its resources is required for many assignments! Faculty value library services and resources – lends legitimacy to online ventures.
Commonalities with Student Services
• Faculty want us to provide handouts – Course specific, general guides, printable
• Online Tutorials (could benefit faculty as well)
• Faculty assume students know how to use library resources and services
• Minimizing the difference in materials available on campus and off – full text is popular, speedy delivery
• Increase awareness of what the library has to offer (let the students know)
When Samantha ran her survey, she got a response rate of 46%, with all 16 of her responses coming within the first week of the survey being posted, even though it was left up for 3 weeks. She used SurveyMonkey to offer 10 questions to her faculty. The results she came up with were:
• She needs better publicity
• Use faculty concerns to market services
• Addressing copyright issues could hook them
• Creating guides/handouts/tutorials increases awareness, could lead to collaboration
Nothing really earthshattering here, but it's nice to have this analysis of surveys available...
Technorati Tags: OCLSC06, Service, Surveys