Learn, Study, Discover
Over the past month, we have been collecting and analyzing data from our Spring 2010 Reference Services Satisfaction Survey.
The statements on this survey are the same ones we asked in the previous three surveys, and Reference Services users rated us on a scale of 1 to 5 (1 being “strongly disagree”, 5 being “strongly agree”).  The four statements are:
- I got the information I needed.
- I have a better understanding of how to find information.
- I have a better understanding of how to evaluate information.
- I am satisfied with the service I received.
The survey results showed that users were once again very satisfied with their experience!
User comments were all very positive, and included:
- The librarian who assisted me was very nice.
- Very helpful with finding info that I would not have been able to obtain myself.
- I received great assistance. I was able to receive information on a topic that I really wanted to research, when I thouht there wasn’t any information out there.
- The help was efficient and led to some great sources.
- Thank you!! (smiley face)
31 out of 32 users that responded were undergraduate students, and one user responded as “other.”
We also evaluated ourselves on our interactions at the Reference Desk:
The data shows that we are mostly satisfied with how we help you overall (statement 4).
From the results for question 3, the data shows that many of us wish we had more time at the desk with users to help them evaluate the information they find. Determining the value and quality of information you find is extremely important, and librarians are ready and willing to help you bring up those evaluation skills! Please ask us if you need help with this.
75% of the provider surveys were completed by librarians, 18.75% by peer reference counselors, and 6.25% by interns.
Here is a user satisfaction summary of the past two school years, from Fall 2008 to Spring 2010:
This year’s user satisfaction ranks as the 2nd highest on the list, and all four surveys had very positive results, never dropping below an average score of 4.
We are always looking for new ways to improve our service here at Odum Reference, and we’re also looking into improving how we evaluate our service. Please post a comment on the blog or Facebook if you have any ideas of how we could either serve you better or find out more about how we’re doing!
Brontë fans will enjoy this short film featuring action figures based on the Brontë sisters, from Phil Lord and Chris Miller of FineMustaches.
You may be inspired to peruse
The Cambridge Companion to the Brontës
A Brontë Encyclopedia (online – Blazenet username and password required)
or some of our more vintage books about the Brontës:
The Brontës’ Web of Childhood (Fannie Ratchford, 1964)
The Brontës (Phyllis Eleanor Bentley, 1947)
The Brontës, Charlotte and Emily (Laura L. Hinkley, 1945)
Derby Day and Other Adventures (Edward Newton, 1934 – the last two chapters are about visiting Haworth and “Brontë country”)
The Young Brontes, Charlotte and Emily, Branwell and Anne (Mary Louise Jarden, 1938 – a chapter book for younger readers)
Odum Library has many comfortable, quiet study spaces suitable for working alone or in groups. The construction noise from the first floor renovation cannot be heard from the other side of the library.
There are cushy chairs, tables, and carrels around the atrium in the addition.
The second floor has comfy chairs near the GALILEO computer area.
There are study tables behind the oversized book shelves.
On the third floor, at the top of the stairs, you will find study tables…
and around the corner is a nice reading and study area.
We apologize for the unavoidable construction noise generated by the first floor renovation. Please let us know if you have any questions or concerns.
Need SPSS?
Computers with SPSS are located in the Third Floor Computer Lab, Room 3250. The Third Floor Computer Lab is located near the stairs in the addition.
Computers with SPSS are clearly labeled (even though my photo is out of focus). Not all the computers in the lab have SPSS.
Rachel Wayne, a Spring 2010 graduate with a major in Anthropology and
minor in Theater is the winner of the jump drive, as selected at random
from the over 100 entrants that completed the library web site survey.
The Library would like to say a big thank you to everyone who completed
the survey. The survey results let us know what visitors like and
dislike about the library’s web site. On the positive side, it appears
that the web site changes made over the past couple of years as informed
by the previous survey, usability studies, and focus groups, have been
well received. On the other hand, there are still areas that need to be
improved.
In meeting with Rachel to present the jump drive, she was asked what she
liked about the library. (Remember the web site survey was anonymous.)
Rachel responded that she thought the building was ‘beautiful’.  She
did use the bound journals and “JSTOR” was her favorite electronic
resource. With graduation day just around the corner, we wish Rachel the
best of success in finding a job, preferably in ‘film production’.
Relax with a good book! Browsing books are located on the second floor, on the wall outside the copy room. We have lots of fun, popular reading titles.
ETA: The problem has been fixed and the Journals Tab is working again.
The Journals Tab on the library home page is broken. We will repair it as soon as possible.
In the meantime, you can access our online journals through GALILEO.
- Go to the library home page
- Login to Anywhere Access if you are off Campus
- Click the big blue GALILEO button on the library home page
- Click on Journals A-Z (in the yellow bar)
- Type the journal title you are looking for into the search box
- Click on the title of the journal
Odum Library will be open regular hours on Tuesday, May 4th.
Our Reference Desk will be staffed from 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM.
Author Ken Auletta‘s New Yorker article Publish or Perish: Can the iPad Topple the Kindle, and Save the Book Business? looks at publishers’ hopes for the iPad and other potential platforms for electronic books.
In this interview Auletta talks about the impact e-books might have on retailers and publishers.
