Confirmation & Results - 2008 Library Survey
Thanks for participating in the library's online survey! Here are the results so far:
Remember to stop up at the library and ask for a 'kiss'. The password is 'muskrat'.
This survey has had 137 responses so far.
Our Users:
| Students from Danielson: | 87 | 64% | Students from Willimantic: | 12 | 9% | Online Students: | 2 | 1% | Faculty: | 19 | 14% | Staff: | 15 | 11% | Community Users: | 1 | 1% |
How often do they use the library:
| Often | 67 | 50% | Sometimes | 48 | 36% | Rarely | 17 | 13% | There's a library? | 3 | 2% |
What resources do you use from off-campus:
| Online Catalog | 24% | Electronic Databases | 24% | E-Books | 7% | Electronic handouts | 11% | Internet Sites by Subject | 19% | Other Resources | 15% |
Internet Access at home?
| High speed | 114 | 85% | Dial up | 7 | 5% | No access | 13 | 10% |
How satisfied are you:
| Very Satisfied | 76 | 58% | Satisfied | 52 | 39% | Dissatisfied | 3 | 2% | Very Dissatisfied | 1 | 1% |
How often do you:
| Always | Sometimes | Rarely | Never | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Check out books: | 7% | 24% | 39% | 30% |
| Use electronic databases: | 25% | 42% | 19% | 14% |
| Write a paper: | 30% | 33% | 15% | 22% |
| Study by myself: | 32% | 28% | 15% | 26% |
| Study with friends: | 5% | 23% | 21% | 51% |
| Hang out: | 15% | 35% | 16% | 35% |
| Check e-mail: | 36% | 27% | 9% | 28% |
| Use WebCT/Vista: | 33% | 30% | 12% | 24% |
| Browse/surf the internet: | 19% | 17% | 12% | 52% |
How satisfied are you with each of the following:
| Very Satisfied | Satisfied | Dissatisfied | Very Dissatisfied | n/a | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Variety of books: | 28% | 53% | 5% | 1% | 12% |
| Materials for assignments: | 30% | 50% | 4% | 0% | 16% |
| Availability of computers: | 46% | 42% | 2% | 1% | 9% |
| Library training sessions: | 51% | 30% | 1% | 1% | 16% |
| Ease of use of the online catalog: | 69% | 0% | 11% | 0% | 20% |
| Ease of use of databases: | 68% | 0% | 11% | 0% | 21% |
| Interlibrary loans: | 35% | 0% | 3% | 0% | 62% |
| Journal/periodical availability: | 73% | 0% | 4% | 1% | 21% |
| Quiet study places: | 58% | 0% | 8% | 6% | 27% |
| Group study places: | 34% | 36% | 5% | 1% | 23% |
| Photocopying facilities: | 51% | 0% | 10% | 3% | 36% |
| Noise level: | 62% | 0% | 13% | 6% | 20% |
| Hours of operation: | 78% | 0% | 5% | 5% | 11% |
Who was your favorite Beatle:
| John | 46 | 35% | Paul | 26 | 20% | George | 14 | 11% | Ringo | 23 | 18% | Who are the Beatles? | 21 | 16% |
Your comments:
"I still would have liked a balcony." [Ah, yes - the balcony. . .]
"I think it would nice to have a coffee bar in there. All the other good book places have them. Maybe even a Starbucks concession. " [Nice idea, but we'd have to give up space that we now use for books, videos, and our students so it probably won't happen.]
"It would be nice to expand the movie library selection." [We are trying. One DVD at a time.]
"The man at the desk with the pony tail to be a little more friendly." [Are you kidding? We're just glad he's not drooling on himself.]
"Opening like at 8:30, before classes start incase someone needs to print out a paper." [Actually, although our official hours begin at 9:00 the library is almost always open by 8:30 already. Just try the door.]
"If all the computers were upgraded to Microsoft Word 2007." [We do intend to finish upgrading all our classroom PC's to Office 2007 over the summer. We decided that this semester would be a transitional one while students made the transition themselves.]
"More access to office 2007 on the computers because the noise level downstairs in the computer lab is too high and only 4 computers in the library have access to 07 and 07 is a much more useful program and the students should be able to keep up with the changes in programs. Get rid of 03." [See above.]
"The library does not need any changes." [Well maybe. . .but what about the balcony?]
"I don't really know to much about the library yet, except what we have learned in the library classes. I hope that I will enjoy the library that you provide for all of us students." [We hope so too.]
"When i was in middle school, the library had micropheach readers. i dont know how to spell it correctly so i did the best i could. Anyway, i enjoyed reading old news paper articles like the sinking of the titanic...it would be cool if we had those availible here in the library" [Ironically, we are just now getting rid of the last of our microfiche and microfilm collection. It simply wasn't getting used nor was it all that interesting a collection. Also, a far greater number of historical documents are now available on the web. Sorry.]
"Noise Barrier from student computer center." [Short of a bunch of money to put up some glass walls there's not much we can do here.]
"Nothing I think its well Rounded." [Some of us are more well rounded than others. We're working on it though.]
"Give all the employees raises!!!!!!!!!!!!!" [You rock!]
"a balcony for nice days...sit outside and read" [Sigh!]
"a quite study area for willimantic" [Something of the sort may just possibly be in the works for Willi. Stay tuned.]
"Can we clone it?" [I think this is still against the law.]
"none" [None is good too.]
"User friendly OPAC. E-brary is better than NetLibrary. More DVDs. More graphic novels, especially by female artists. Library-sponsored programming would be cool. " [Amy, get back to work.]
"The library is a place for studying, not for socializing, including staff. It would be nice to study for finals or midterms without hearing what a worker at the library likes to drink on the weekend. I study in the very back where it states it is "qiet study area", and I still can hear the staff being very loud which is frustrating! Also students are very loud as well! This library is the best, just bring down the noise levels and it will be perfect!" [Regarding all the comments about the noise level in the library - we're sorry. It's not as quiet as it could be. We have tried to tone it down but in all honesty it just isn't going to happen. It is what it is. We're loud, students are loud but we'd hoped that the noise wasn't getting back to the quiet area as much as it is apparently. If we get particularly annoying come up and shush us - we'll understand.]
"The library must extend their hours for working students! Open earlier like 8am and close later! It would also be nice if the faculty was a little nicer at letting you know they are closing soon...and not hounding you!" [Release the hounds!]
"Quiet! Quiet! Quiet!" [See above.]
"there is really nothing else i would ask for our library. it seems to be doing jsut fine and see no problem with anything around it." [You're so sweet.]
"I can't think of anything to add. " [See above.]
"None it is perfect in every way" [You too.]
"Make it a lot bigger." [YES! Maybe an iMax theater!]
"I think that the libary is a great place to do my reshearch projects or just to come to hang out on the comps and be able to relax. " [Anytime. Feel free.]
"Increase size and content (books)." [We're trying.]
"have more hours on friday and saturday" [Hmmm. . . we'll consider it although experience over the years has shown us that there usually aren't more than one or two folks, if that, around late on either day.]
"That last question was a good one but john ledgend will always be my favorite. The only thing i would suggest is that the computers be compatible to all prgrams. Sometimes i have trouble using my flash drive." [We are trying to find a way to make drives more available to students. We've only run an open lab with the Office products on them for one semester. We are trying to find a way to strike a balance between ease-of-use for our students and our need to manage these machines.]
"N/A" [O/K]
"Nothing at all. " [A nihilist?]
"i would suggest to have a bigger library on campus. I think that having more space would be helpul for everyone." [Can we inculde a balcony?]
"I wish they made laundry mat scented car air fresheners..." [Doesn't everybody?]
"The library is fine the way it is." [Another sweetie.]
"It would help those of us who do better working with less noise to have people who just want to hang out, or come with others to work, keep their noise down to a bear minimum! I find it very hard to consentrate with the amount of noise that goes on in what I thought was a quiet atmosphere." [Please see above.]
"Staff may want to consider a coffee house addition like a Starbucks. Also, the staff should wear name tags so we know who is who...Amy, Michael??It is hard to tell the difference." [Here's an easy way to distinguish Amy from Michael. Amy = cute, Michael = koot.]
"Noise level means A) Too high?, B) Too low? Beatles? I prefer the Rolling Stones. All of the library staff are wonderful. Walter Moriarty/Faculty (In Possession Of) " [Sympathy for the Devil?]
"Micheal is a big help, he really saved me by helping me recover a file with a good portion of my work on it. He seems quite friendly! I like how student workers make me aware that the library is about to close, then I have time to save my documents. " [Those student workers! They're the best!!]
"More flamingos! The online databases and the online catalogs are a little difficult to navigate. " [Both our Online Catalog and most of our databases will probably undergo major revisions over the next year. Hopefully for the better.]
"Make the Willi LLC BIGGER!" [We're with you there.]
"Uniforms for library staff. Raises for student workers. " [Believe it or not - we've actually discussed this.]
"have more up to date computer programs available" [Other than Office 2007 we are not sure what else this could be.]
"WHY WOULD I WANT TO?!" [Listen to the voices in your head.]
"I think it is doing quite well." [Thanks.]
"The library staff should really make more effort to grow mustaches." [I don't believe the female members of out staff are all that happy with this idea.]
"You run a fabulous library. You are open about ordering books, periodicals, dvd's, and films that pertain to my curriculum. No matter how busy you are, you never seem to mind a rather involved question. And none of the above questions asks about all the electronic resources you introduce and provide us with to use in our classes. I really appreciate the time you spend showing me how to use whatever it is I need. Is this a trick question??? " [Yes it was a trick question. Thanks.]
"Use your quiet library voices!!!!!" [Please see above.]
"The QVCC Library is a great place with friendly knowledgeable staff!" [Even the guy with the pony tail?]
"I think staff at QVCC be required to write monthly book reports. (These reports would be posted so students would see that teachers and administrators do read--rather than talk about reading; that they can write--rather than just teaching about writing. With hope, the selection of books read and the quality of the reports written will show students that staff do think.)" [We'll pass this on. Seriously, a number of staff in the area of liberal arts have suggested that there be some sort of repository for above average student papers as a learning tool.]
"I understand that this is a community college, however - the variaty of books for pleasure reading is... lacking. I also understand that the facility is open for group study and conference, awesome, however it is also open to the lucnch munching bull sh**ing crowed of morons who do not understand that the caf is where you should consume food and be loud. Frustrating. One more... this is the only place i have to study and use the internet, why am i always displaced by classes? is there no computer lab? Is it nessessary to remove paying students from there study and research area? Moving on, I know the aformentioned sounds harsh, the library on a whole is great, nice staff for the most part, and great for class work. Thanks." [As an academic library we probably never will have a substantial collection of books for pleasure reading, there's too much competition for space. Again, we apologize for the noise but we are a teaching library which is why we have a classroom area and why you occasionally are asked to move but there are indeed several open computer labs on campus. Start with room E188 downstairs.]
"Less noise" [Please see above.]
"No suggestions" [OK]
"what do you mean, Improvements? It's good enough already! All things imperfect, all things impermanent except the unchanging. " [Deep.]
"More lowered voices and enforcement of quiet area to be quiet." [Please see above]
"It would be helpful if it was open on Sunday." [This probably isn't going to happen but remember that most of our resources are available 24/7 online.]
"For those who wish for a coffee house feel (including me), please stop by the cafeteria and ask Leona why she is not staffing the snack/coffee bar in the Atrium of the new building. Certainly seems like there is a high demand!" [Might be nice . . . but remember Leona's coffee anf snacks are just a few yards down the hallway.]
"I think the library student workers are hott!!" [Sizzling!]
"Improve the Willimantic library so it is just as good as Danielson." [We'd LOVE to!]
"The library here is great for when I need it...Thank you so much!!!" [You're welcome so much!!!]
"Perhaps more educational DVD's I do enjoy being a part of this envirorment. Thank you for being here for me!" [Thanks for being here with us!]
"kpi's" [Mark, get back to work!]
"I would love it if the library were open later. I love the library's atmosphere." [Perhaps we could bottle it?]
"I would love seeing more of the student workers... Maybe over dinner? This is assuming the men in the library are excluded." [Once again, the guy with the pony tail is excluded. No wonder he's so unfriendly.]
"I love the library, and wouldn't want it any other way. In fact, even if the finest of changes were made, I would yearn for the return of the old library. Sure, I would smile, nod my head, and act as though I approved - but somewhere deep in my heart I would be wondering what happened to the the library I fell in love with. My search for answers would undoubtedly lead to severe alcoholism. You can be sure that one drunken night, I would betray the trust that the library and I have built - with a lesser book collection. Don't force me into this... please." ["One Survey To Rule Them All, One Survey To Find Them, One Survey To Bring Them All And In The Library Bind Them!"]
"Nicer librarians, the woman with the dark hair seems to hate working here. What is her problem?" [Well at least this isn't about the guy with the pony tail.]
"This library is very good....maybe more fiction/novels to read and movies." [Again, it wouold be difficult for us to maintain our academic collection and a reading collection. The good news is that your local public library probably does a pretty good job in this regard.]
"Perhaps a half an hour longer for operation hours." [If you mean staying open to 9:00 at night I can't really say we've seen much demand.]
"More Macs. Free food. Ponies. " [Ah, ponies. . . A nice note to end the survey on. Thanks. (Probably a better note than imagining Free Big Macs made from ponies which was my other choice.)]