UW Libraries Triennial Survey 2004 Key Results and
Analysis
Prepared for Faculty
Council on University Libraries
HIGHLIGHTS
ALL RESULTS IN PERCENT
UNLESS OTHERWISE INDICATED
RESPONSE AND
REPRESENTATIVENESS
1560 faculty responded to the
survey; the largest number recorded in the five triennial surveys. Survey response rate at 40% equaled the
highest registered. The survey
respondents were representative of the campus faculty population by academic
area and there was little change in composition from 2001.
Surveys Returned and
Response Rate by Group
|
|
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
1995 |
1992 |
|||||
|
|
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
# |
% |
|
Faculty |
1560 |
40% |
1345 |
36% |
1503 |
40% |
1359 |
31% |
1108 |
28% |
|
Grad Students |
627 |
40% |
597 |
40% |
457 |
46% |
409 |
41% |
560 |
56% |
|
Undergraduates |
502 |
25% |
497 |
25% |
787 |
39% |
463 |
23% |
407 |
41% |
|
Research Scientists |
369 |
34% |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
SATISFACTION AND EASE
OF USE
Satisfaction
Library satisfaction levels increased
among all groups reaching the highest levels of any survey.
Mean satisfaction scores for
research scientists and engineers was close to the other groups at 4.40 for
services, 4.28 for collections, and 4.39 overall.
|
|
FACULTY |
GRAD STUDENTS |
UNDERGRADUATES |
||||||
|
Mean Scores |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2002 |
1998 |
|
Services |
4.57 |
4.44 |
4.43 |
4.41 |
4.35 |
4.21 |
4.35 |
4.20 |
3.97 |
|
Collections |
4.24 |
4.19 |
4.18 |
4.23 |
4.12 |
4.06 |
4.26 |
4.09 |
3.96 |
|
Overall |
4.44 |
4.33 |
4.33 |
4.34 |
4.26 |
4.11 |
4.32 |
4.22 |
3.99 |
Specific Service
Satisfaction
Satisfaction with specific
services increased with the exception of access to library computers.
|
|
Faculty |
Grad Students |
Undergraduates |
||||||
|
|
NA |
Mean |
Mean |
NA |
Mean |
Mean |
NA |
Mean |
Mean |
|
SERVICE |
Don’t Use (%) |
2004 |
2001 |
Don’t Use (%) |
2004 |
2001 |
Don’t Use |
2004 |
2001 |
|
Reshelving |
(31.1) |
4.11 |
4.01 |
(24.4) |
4.11 |
3.88 |
(30.7) |
4.20 |
4.04 |
|
Elcectronic course reserves |
(53.1) |
4.31 |
4.17 |
(30.8) |
4.25 |
3.93 |
(23.1) |
4.19 |
3.93 |
|
Library instruction |
(56.9) |
4.25 |
4.13 |
(52.0) |
4.16 |
3.84 |
(43.1) |
4.02 |
3.76 |
|
Staff assistance in library |
(25.1) |
4.41 |
4.31 |
(21.3) |
4.36 |
4.13 |
(26.5) |
4.21 |
3.90 |
|
Staff assistance remotely |
(45.9) |
4.23 |
4.02 |
(52.3) |
4.13 |
3.84 |
(48.2) |
4.07 |
3.67 |
|
Photocopy |
(36.0) |
3.63 |
3.59 |
(25.9) |
3.16 |
3.18 |
(28.1) |
3.90 |
3.68 |
|
ILL Books (including |
(43.9) |
4.11 |
|
(44.0) |
4.30 |
|
(58.6) |
4.07 |
|
|
Journal article delivery |
(43.8) |
4.09 |
|
(51.5) |
3.98 |
|
(58.6) |
3.90 |
|
|
Printing in libraries |
|
|
|
(52.3) |
3.39 |
|
(25.7) |
3.79 |
|
|
Access to library computers |
(44.2) |
4.03 |
4.09 |
(21.2) |
4.01 |
4.12 |
(11.8) |
3.85 |
3.90 |
|
Information Gateway Web
site |
(18.3) |
4.32 |
4.20 |
(12.8) |
4.27 |
4.27 |
(21.3) |
4.13 |
4.06 |
|
HealthLinks Web site |
(48.1) |
4.36 |
|
(60.8) |
4.20 |
|
|
|
|
|
Librarian liaison to
department |
(55.1) |
4.36 |
|
(60.0) |
4.21 |
|
|
|
|
Ease of Use
Faculty generally found
library services easier to use than students.
|
FACULTY MEAN SCORES 1 TO 5 |
Faculty |
Grad |
Undergrad |
|
Find a journal in the
library |
4.19 |
3.99 |
3.69 |
|
Get journal articles not on
campus |
3.70 |
3.40 |
|
|
Determine ejournal holdings |
3.87 |
3.60 |
3.55 |
|
Find a computer to use in the
library |
4.13 |
4.15 |
3.63 |
|
Be informed about changes
in libraries |
3.82 |
3.64 |
|
FREQUENCY OF USE
Library Visits
(Physical and Virtual)
Frequency of use rose sharply
for faculty and graduate students. Among
those who use the library at least weekly, most do so twice per week or more
often. More than 90% of faculty and
graduate students used libraries at least weekly, primarily using remote
access. Among undergraduates, frequency of use remained the same as in the previous
two surveys.
|
|
At least twice per week |
Total at least weekly |
||||
|
Library Visits in Percent |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
|
Faculty |
73.7 |
54.9 |
47.2 |
91.2 |
82.2 |
81.4 |
|
Grad |
70.2 |
58.8 |
53.0 |
91.1 |
86.1 |
86.4 |
|
Undergrad |
44.0 |
46.3 |
45.7 |
74.5 |
76.3 |
77.7 |
|
Research Scientists |
50.9 |
|
|
73.3 |
|
|
The most significant increase
for faculty and grad students was in remote use, especially from off-campus
residences. The frequency of in-person
visits continued to decline. The
proportion of weekly use by those who use the library remotely at least two or
more times per week rose sharply in 2004
|
Library Visits in Percent |
At least twice per week |
Total at least weekly |
||||
|
FACULTY |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
|
Visit in person |
7.6 |
14.0 |
16.6 |
29.2 |
38.7 |
47.3 |
|
Use campus computer |
65.6 |
49.5 |
39.0 |
82.5 |
76.0 |
71.2 |
|
Use residence computer |
37.7 |
22.6 |
17.6 |
60.0 |
43.1 |
37.4 |
|
GRAD STUDENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Visit in person |
23.9 |
27.2 |
40.5 |
52.2 |
59.5 |
77.7 |
|
Use campus computer |
47.7 |
34.5 |
21.0 |
71.5 |
58.7 |
48.1 |
|
Use residence computer |
43.7 |
28.4 |
19.7 |
69.1 |
54.8 |
45.7 |
Undergraduates are still more
likely to visit the library than connect remotely
|
Library Visits in Percent |
At least twice per week |
Total at least weekly |
||||
|
UNDERGRADS |
2004 |
2002 |
1998 |
2004 |
2002 |
1998 |
|
Visit in person |
34.1 |
32.8 |
38.8 |
60.8 |
60.4 |
70.3 |
|
Use computer not in library |
19.7 |
18.7 |
8.8 |
47.4 |
40.0 |
20.7 |
Services and
Resources Used
There have been substantial
increases in the frequency of remote use of library resources such as the
catalog, bibliographic databases, and especially electronic journals. .The most impressive increases can be seen in
those who use these resources at least twice per week.
|
Remote Visits in Percent |
At least twice per week |
Total at least weekly |
||
|
FACULTY |
2004 |
2001 |
2004 |
2001 |
|
Search UW Libraries catalog |
34.3 |
27.3 |
56.9 |
49.2 |
|
Search Bibliographic
databases |
42.0 |
28.6 |
61.7 |
49.9 |
|
Look ejournal articles |
55.1 |
30.5 |
76.6 |
53.5 |
|
Look for electronic books |
6.2 |
|
13.2 |
|
|
Look for other full text |
11.2 |
|
22.8 |
|
|
GRAD STUDENTS |
|
|
|
|
|
Search UW Libraries catalog |
41.7 |
29.7 |
72.2 |
59.7 |
|
Search Bibliographic
databases |
33.7 |
22.2 |
58.4 |
43.0 |
|
Look for ejournal articles |
46.2 |
29.1 |
72.7 |
55.4 |
|
Look for electronic books |
9.6 |
|
16.3 |
|
|
Look for other full-text |
17.0 |
|
34.0 |
|
|
UNDERGRADS* |
|
|
|
|
|
Search UW Libraries catalog |
17.0 |
4.0 |
42.7 |
34.6 |
|
Search Bibliographic
databases |
10.2 |
0.8 |
27.3 |
18.9 |
|
Look for ejournal articles |
11.4 |
2.4 |
25.1 |
22.7 |
|
Look for electronic books |
8.8 |
|
17.4 |
|
For those visiting the
libraries on a regular basis (at least weekly), the resources and services used
did not change significantly with the exception of journal use and photocopying
among graduate students.
|
|
Undergraduate |
Undergraduate |
Graduate |
Graduate |
||||
|
Physical Visits in Percent |
2x week> |
Total weekly |
2x week> |
Total weekly |
||||
|
Activity |
2004 |
2002 |
2004 |
2002 |
2004 |
2001 |
2004 |
2001 |
|
Look for a journal |
4.0 |
4.0 |
11.8 |
10.2 |
15.4 |
14.9 |
32.3 |
41.2 |
|
Look for a book |
5.8 |
6.2 |
21.8 |
19.0 |
14.6 |
12.1 |
29.6 |
33.1 |
|
Consult library staff |
2.8 |
1.4 |
9.2 |
5.0 |
3.2 |
1.6 |
10.1 |
5.2 |
|
Photocopy |
6.2 |
6.6 |
17.0 |
20.7 |
4.3 |
6.4 |
17.8 |
27.5 |
|
Print |
13.5 |
17.9 |
30.8 |
31.6 |
5.8 |
|
10.8 |
|
|
Use library computers |
38.4 |
34.8 |
59.9 |
57.3 |
19.3 |
18.1 |
36.6 |
34.6 |
|
Individual work |
33.5 |
30.4 |
57.2 |
56.0 |
16.4 |
15.3 |
30.4 |
31.5 |
|
Group work |
11.4 |
11.1 |
23.4 |
25.2 |
5.3 |
|
11.7 |
|
IMPORTANCE AND
PRIORITIES
Importance of UW
Libraries for Work
The UW Libraries remains the
most important source of information for the work of faculty and students,
little change from previous years.
However, there was a significant increase in the importance of the open
Web for all 3 groups. Further
investigation may be helpful in identifying the reasons for this rise in
importance – is it related to content, “ease of use”, or other factors.
|
MEAN SCORE (1-5) |
Faculty |
Graduate Student |
Undergraduate |
||||||
|
Source |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2002 |
1998 |
|
UW Libraries |
4.82 |
4.78 |
4.75 |
4.73 |
4.79 |
4.68 |
4.27 |
4.20 |
4.06 |
|
World Wide Web |
4.23 |
3.82 |
3.78 |
4.24 |
3.87 |
3.87 |
4.15 |
3.84 |
3.98 |
Importance of
resource types
Journals remain the most
important resource type for faculty and graduate students. The mportance of books have dropped since
1998.
|
|
Faculty Most important and means |
Grad Most important and means |
||||||
|
|
Mark 5 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
Mark 5 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
|
Books |
40.3% |
3.77 |
3.83 |
4.12 |
38.5% |
3.70 |
3.91 |
4.11 |
|
Journals >1985 |
82.1% |
4.60 |
4.47 |
4.71 |
70.1% |
4.32 |
4.33 |
4.67 |
|
Journals <1985 |
30.0% |
3.58 |
3.58 |
3.72 |
25.0% |
3.27 |
3.37 |
3.50 |
|
Bibliographic databases |
53.2% |
3.86 |
3.76 |
4.09 |
44.6% |
3.62 |
3.55 |
4.12 |
Priorities
Online access to journals
were the overwhelming priorities for faculty and graduate students. There was a
sharp drop in the percentage of faculty and graduate students identifying
maintaining the quality of library print collections as a priority. Undergraduates spread priorities over a
larger number of categories. Research
scientists and engineers identified two priorities: More online journal titles (82%) and online
access to older journals (60%).
|
|
Faculty |
Grad Students |
Undergraduates |
||||||
|
PRIORITY IN PERCENT |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2001 |
1998 |
2004 |
2002 |
1998 |
|
More online journal titles |
78.0 |
73.5 |
60.4 |
75.8 |
72.8 |
56.0 |
34.7 |
54.9 |
34.4 |
|
Quality of Lib print collections |
40.5 |
57.4 |
69.6 |
33.7 |
53.3 |
52.1 |
25.7 |
24.5 |
28.8 |
|
Online access to older journals |
55.8 |
59.6 |
|
55.7 |
61.8 |
|
32.1 |
|
|
|
More online book titles |
18.1 |
|
|
22.8 |
|
|
21.9 |
|
|
|
Increase library hours |
9.6 |
8.6 |
17.0 |
26.5 |
27.4 |
37.6 |
37.3 |
33.8 |
41.9 |
|
Wireless in campus
libraries |
13.7 |
|
|
23.0 |
|
|
32.9 |
|
|
|
Changes in scholarly publishing |
33.3 |
|
|
26.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
More e-reserves |
|
|
|
|
|
|
32.5 |
49.5 |
50.8 |
|
Preservation |
26.4 |
39.3 |
40.9 |
26.8 |
34.5 |
35.0 |
22.9 |
22.3 |
24.7 |
|
Support in course
planning/teaching |
7.1 |
5.0 |
9.6 |
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
Library research consultation
|
|
|
|
14.4 |
20.8 |
13.3 |
18.9 |
20.9 |
39.8 |
|
Instruction in using resources |
15.7 |
22.6 |
28.3 |
12.6 |
18.7 |
27.4 |
13.3 |
17.5 |
47.5 |
|
Office delivery of books |
7.2 |
14.1 |
23.6 |
5.8 |
10.5 |
12.9 |
|
|
|
|
Group study rooms |
|
|
|
|
|
|
24.1 |
33.4 |
35.5 |
|
More functionality to lib
computers |
|
|
|
7.7 |
|
|
29.1 |
|
|
|
Quieter work study areas in
libraries |
3.3 |
4.8 |
|
11.6 |
14.6 |
|
25.9 |
32.6 |
|
|
Integrate lib info into
campus Web |
15.6 |
|
|
21.3 |
|
|
25.3 |
|
|
Federally Funded
Researchers
The survey asked for the first time whether respondents
received or used federal research funding.
Approximately 57% of faculty
reported receiving or using federal research funding during the 2003-04
academic year, including 71% of those in Health Sciences and 76% of faculty in
science and engineering. Faculty who
received or used federal funding for research rated the Libraries and library resources
higher in importance than those who didn’t in the same academic area. They also used electronic journals and
bibliographic databases more frequently than others. There was no difference within each academic
area in faculty location. Approximately 22.5% of Health Sciences faculty and 3%
of Science-Engineering faculty were not located on the Seattle main campus,
regardless of whether they received federal funding or not.
|
Importance |
Health Sciences |
Science-Engineering |
||
|
Mean Scores 1-5 |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
|
UW Libraries |
4.89 |
4.72 |
4.82 |
4.69 |
|
Current journals |
4.76 |
4.40 |
4.68 |
4.56 |
|
Bib Databases |
3.85 |
3.50 |
3.89 |
3.77 |
|
Frequency of use % |
Health Sciences |
Science-Engineering |
||
|
2 x per week or more |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
|
Visit in person |
2.3% |
4.1% |
6.8% |
11.4% |
|
Use campus computer |
74.0% |
63.4% |
66.7% |
62.5% |
|
Use residence computer |
48.2% |
38.5% |
26.4% |
21.6% |
|
Frequency of use % |
Health Sciences |
Science-Engineering |
||
|
2 x per week or more |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
|
Search bib databases |
48.6% |
35.5% |
45.5% |
31.8% |
|
Look for ejournal art. |
74.2% |
50.3% |
63.0% |
43.2% |
|
Priority for library |
Health Sciences |
Science-Engineering |
||
|
Online journal titles |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
Fed $ |
No Fed $ |
|
More Ejournal titles |
91.5% |
80.7% |
75.4% |
73.9% |
|
Print Collection Quality |
27.0% |
23.4% |
41.4% |
44.3% |
|
Ejournal backfiles |
62.4% |
41.1% |
66.0% |
65.9% |