This 106-page report looks closely at how academic libraries are using online and other survey tools to improve library productivity and match library capabilities with user needs. The report helps its readers to answer questions such as: which populations do academic libraries survey and how often do they do so? How extensive is the use of online survey tools and which ones are used? To what extent do libraries use fee version and to what extent paid versions? Do they hire market research or polling firms and if so, how often? How do libraries benefit from surveying? Do they publish or otherwise make available survey results? How can survey results be used to influence key stakeholders? How do libraries assess survey results? Do they archive surveys?
Just a few of the report’s many findings are that:
Free subscriptions to Survey Monkey outnumber paid subscriptions three to one
Almost 40% of all schools increased their surveying, with about 8% substantially increasing.
A great majority of the libraries (83%) sampled do not provide tutorials or training on use of online survey tools.