About LibQUAL

What is LibQUAL?

LibQUAL is a survey administered by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) used to assess the quality of service provided by libraries. By participating in the survey, we will have the opportunity to find out what our community thinks about the TWU Library system, and the individual libraries within the system, and also to compare our library with comparable academic libraries. The survey addresses quality of service categorized into three dimensions: Affect of Service (how people feel about the services and staff), Information Control (the ability to locate resources) and Library as Place (encompassing the overall physical space in the libraries).

Why is the TWU Libraries system conducting this survey?

The LibQUAL survey will help the TWU Libraries system understand what services are most important to its community. The survey will help us see how we are doing and what services and resources are most important to you.

When is the survey being conducted and who is included?

The survey will be open from February 15-March 15, 2010. All faculty, graduate students, and university central staff will receive an email invitation and reminders to take the survey. A random sample of the undergraduate students will receive the survey invitation and reminders.

How long does it take to complete survey?

The estimated time for taking the survey is 9-10 minutes.

What about my privacy?

Identifying information is kept separate from the survey results to ensure the privacy of respondents. The reporting of results will be generalized to ensure anonymity.

While we hope that you will share your opinions with us, you are not required to take the survey. If you change your mind about participating once you’ve begun the survey, you may simply close your browser. Your responses will not be captured unless you have clicked on the “Complete the Survey” button. If there is a particular question to which you do not want to respond, you may use the “N/A” response for that question.

Why are reminders sent to respondents who have already completed the survey?

Due to security and confidentiality features, everyone surveyed will receive reminders, even those who have already responded. When submitted, survey responses and identifying information are immediately separated, so we have no way of knowing who has already responded. Reminders, therefore, are distributed to everyone in the survey group.

Reminders are also sent because research indicates that the single highest predictor of response rates in web-based surveys is the number of contacts made, including reminders. (See: Cook, Heath, and Thompson, "A meta-analysis of response rates in web- or internet-based surveys", Educational and Psychological Measurement, v. 60, 2000, p.821-836.)

What will be done with the results?

The results of the survey will be used to guide the service priorities for the TWU Libraries system overall, as well as for the individual libraries and collections that are part of the system. TWU Libraries will use the LibQUAL survey results, in conjunction with other information, to begin a campus conversation about the library of the future.

 

INFORMED CONSENT NOTICE

Please read this notice carefully before you choose to take the LibQUAL+ survey. If you have questions or concerns, please read the FAQs in the next column. Please do not take the survey if you are under 18 years of age.

The purpose of the LibQUAL+ survey is to help the libraries of Texas Woman's University measure library service quality.

The results of the survey will help us to better respond to your expectations for library and information services. If you choose to participate in the survey you will benefit because the libraries will be able to better assess the returns on investments in terms of user evaluations of service quality. Strengths and weaknesses across several dimensions defining service quality will be identified.

It takes approximately 9-10 minutes to complete the survey of 43 questions. Your participation in this survey is completely voluntary. The questionnaire is straightforward and involves no deception or coercion. You are free to decline to participate in the survey and can choose to leave the survey without finishing it.

If you have any questions about the administration of the survey at TWU Libraries, please send an email message to libqual@twu.edu or call (940) 898-3909. For more information about your rights as a research participant please contact Institutional Review Board, Act, 7th Floor, 304 Administration Drive, Denton, Texas.  By completing the survey, you indicate that you agree to the conditions of this project and give voluntary consent for participation.

I have read and understand the information above. I voluntarily consent to participate in the survey.