2006 Student Survey:
Results and Library Response
Introduction
As many of you know, from March
13th through March 26th 2006, the DuFour Law
Library conducted a survey to determine how
you, the law students, perceive library services
and facilities. First, we want to thank you
for your participation in the survey. We were
very pleased with the response rate; a total
of 279 students participated in the survey,
almost 30% of the total law school student population.
In particular, we would like to extend a note
of gratitude to the graduating students who
responded. As a graduate you may not directly
benefit from the results of the survey, however
by participating you are helping to make the
Library and the Law School a better facility
for future CUA law students. Second, we want
you to know that the responses you provided
are taken very seriously. In addition to compiling
your responses to the questions we have also
read each and every comment submitted. As soon
as we assimilated the results of the survey
a number of senior library staff met to discuss
how we can respond, both in the short term and
in the long term, to the issues that are of
concern to you. This document outlines those
issues and details our plan to address them.
The survey measured three general
areas, each of which will be addressed below
in terms of how we will respond to your feedback:
1. Library service
2. Library collection and web page
3. Library facilities
Overall we are very pleased to
report that you rated library services (Circulation
and Reference) as either excellent or good.
In addition, you provided very encouraging feedback
on the library collection and webpage, both
of which elicited mostly excellent or good responses.
From your responses and comments we know that
there are a number of you who would appreciate
further instruction on the various library resources
available to you; this is something we hope
to address on an on-going basis. Turning to
the Library as a facility, the majority of you
rated the facilities as comfortable and conducive
to studying; however we are aware that there
are some issues regarding the availability and/or
quality of certain types of equipment. All of
these points, together with a number of other
issues and our responses to them, are discussed
in greater detail below.
By providing us with your feedback
it is now incumbent upon those of us in the
Library to respond, and in so doing together
we will improve the Library services, the collection,
and the facility for all our patrons. Some of
these improvements we have already implemented,
others we hope to carry out in the very near
future, and of course there are additional improvements
that will require long-range planning. Thank
you again for your participation in the survey!
The library will take a number
of immediate actions in response to the survey
results and comments:
Library
Response
Equipment
- A new 8150 laptop printer was added to
Floor 3. Over the summer, the Floor 2 laptop
printer will be replaced with an 8150. Plans
are also in place to convert the 2nd 8150
on Floor 4 to a laptop printer.
- New staplers and hole-punches will be
installed in all three copy rooms and the
reference room.
- The library will explore ways to better
administer printing and reduce waste.
Facility
- The remaining old carrel lights will be
replaced this summer. Once the new lights
are installed, there will be no more buzzing
problems.
- Outlets will be installed on both sides
of the tables on Floors 2 and 4.
- Color-coded maps will be created and posted
through-out the library during the summer.
- The library will explore options for the
implementation of an online reservation
system for Group Study Rooms.
- The library will consider a change to
the laptop ban on Floor 3 and consider ways
to provide more laptop access while retaining
a quiet area to study.
- Temperature continues to be an important
issue for students. However, the response
to the temperature question was evenly split:
125 respondents rated the temperature as
comfortable; 124 rated it as uncomfortable.
Library staff will continue to monitor the
temperature on a daily basis and make adjustments
if necessary.
Web
Page
- The library’s Online Databases page
will be re-designed to be more user-friendly.
- The library will explore ways to make
students aware of our online databases and
how to use them.
- A database that assists students in identifying
which journals are available in which online
service will be implemented.
- My Columbo will be implemented.
This feature will enable students to personalize
their use of the library’s online
catalog, Columbo. My Columbo
will streamline access to online exams and
facilitate management of your circulation
record.
Security
Security remains an important
concern for the library. In the past year, the
following changes were made:
- Door guard coverage was increased to include
more hours (11 am – 11:30 pm seven
days a week) and also extended to cover
most of the summer schedule.
- Door guards register all visitors who
enter the library and assist library staff
in the enforcement of visitor rules and
guidelines.
Some survey respondents complained
that it is cumbersome to display their IDs twice
(once to open the doors and then to the door
guard). This policy is necessary in case more
than one person enters the library at a time.
In response to concerns about
theft, the library will take the following steps:
- Install security anchors in about half
of the carrels in the library. These anchors
can be used to secure your laptop to the
carrel.
- A limited number of laptop locks will
be available for loan at the circulation
desk. Laptop locks can also be purchased
at the campus bookstore.
- The Law School Security Officer and library
staff will continue to make regular sweeps
through the library to ensure that valuables
are not left unattended. We cannot stress
enough the importance of safeguarding your
valuables while in the library.
- The library staff will continue to post
notices of thefts so that students are aware
if a theft has taken place. Please help
us to keep the library secure by reporting
all thefts and suspicious behavior to library
staff.
Library
Service
The library will explore ways
to improve service in all areas. In particular:
- The library will examine ways to continually
provide a consistent level of service.
- The library will look at ways to improve
the Government Documents / Microform Room
so that it is easier to locate needed materials.
- The library will consider ways to expand
and better advertise its Interlibrary Loan
service.
