2013 Student Survey Results

Each year during spring quarter the library conducts a survey asking students to give us their opinions about the library's resources and services. Responses are analyzed to determine how well student needs are being met by the library and find ways to improve. 215 students (or 26% of enrollment) responded to the 2013 survey.

Survey questions offer students the ability to both rank the library using a numerical ranking as well as make a written comment to a question. Examples of some of the numerical ratings include:

• 98% of students visited the library over the last year to use resources or ask for assistance 
• 87% of students rank the library service very important to their education 
• 75% of students use the library’s database collection at least once each week to help with their classes 

Editorial comments give students an opportunity to provide specific feedback and suggest improvements.  Since some comments are emphasized by more than one student, we have listed a few below with the library's response to the suggestion.  

More pleasurable books to read
Expand the leisure reading section.

More book for entertainment

To make leisure reading more available to students the library offers the Paperback Exchange collection. Primarily fiction books in a variety of genres are available in a take one/give one format – trading books means what is available is always changing and evolving for the next person. The Paperback Exchange is located on the shelves across from the reference desk, stop by today for something to read.

Why don’t you provide textbooks?

The library does not have textbooks in the collection for many reasons--they are expensive, highly prone to theft even when they are not allowed to circulate, and quickly replaced by new editions. If they are allowed to circulate, they tend to be checked out almost constantly, which leads to increasing demands to purchase more copies. Unless a copy is purchased for each enrolled student--which is simply not feasible—having textbooks available will only benefit a small number of students with the vast majority disappointed and angry. This situation doesn’t serve our mission, which is to provide the best possible service to as many students as possible.

The online databases can be very confusing

Provide more information on the resources that are available and how to use them.

In addition to the material physically in the library, the library offers database searching for journal articles (many of which are full-text) by subject as well as electronic copies of books. The list of these resources is available on the library’s web page along with tutorials on how to get started. If you need a particular type of resource or would like a quick demo on how to use the databases, stop by the library desk anytime – we’d love to tell you more about what you can find!

Enforce a whispering policy.

For it to be more quiet so we are able to study if we want or take an exam without distractions. 

sometimes it can get loud in there just from people having study groups

The library offers many services out of our space – computers & printing, study tables, browsing for library books and DVDs, paperback book collection, magazine & journal research – just to name a few. During certain times of the day things can get quite busy in the library. The library staff want to help each student use our resources and asks everyone to respect their fellow students and behave appropriately. If you are having problems, please talk with us and let us know how we can help!

The library appreciates each student that took time to respond to our survey. Thank you!!