Comprehensive Library Survey Results to be Presented at Town Hall

January 28, 2016

University Libraries recently completed a campus-wide survey to assess how the facilities are meeting campus expectations for services, spaces and collections. Now, the libraries staff wants to hear directly from its users.

On Monday, Feb. 1, from 2 - 3:30 p.m. in the Learning Commons @ Perry Library, a town hall will be held to share the results of the survey, which is aimed at helping shape decisions and priorities as the Old Dominion University Libraries work to adapt to the rapidly changing world of information and research.

"The University Libraries have been serving the ODU community since the beginning, but I have not seen where we asked, 'How are we doing?'" said George Fowler, head University librarian. "That is exactly what we did last fall and now we want to discuss the results with the community in this town hall event."

One key finding was that Old Dominion library users have higher expectations than those at comparable peer institutions.

ODU faculty said they are most concerned with access to resources and library collections; graduate students are most concerned with access to resources and library spaces; and undergraduates are overwhelmingly most concerned with space.

A celebratory cake will be served at the town hall as a thank you to the nearly 900 undergraduates, graduate students, faculty and staff who completed the survey.

So far, confirmed town hall attendees range from include undergraduate students, to faculty, and senior University administrators. Please RSVP to librarysurvey@odu.edu, as space is limited.

The LibQUAL+ survey, which was used to conduct the analysis at Old Dominion, was designed by the American Research Libraries. It has been rigorously tested and used by thousands of libraries worldwide. In addition to providing data about users at the University, LibQUAL+ offers the opportunity to compare survey results with peer institutions.

One key finding of the survey is that Old Dominion library users have higher expectations than those at comparable peer institutions.

Overall trends revealed that faculty are most concerned with access to resources and library collections; graduate students are most concerned with access to resources; and library spaces and undergraduates are overwhelmingly most concerned with space.

Administering the LibQUAL+ survey was a year-long process.

A six member team, led by Megan Smith, a reference training and technology specialist, worked to develop, administer and market the survey. The libraries collaborated with the Office of Institutional Effectiveness & Assessment, University Marketing and Academic Technology Services to complete the comprehensive survey project.

Library officials are eager to hear input from library users at the town hall. For more information on the LibQUAL+ survey, please visit the Old Dominion University Libraries website.