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SARIS - Student Affairs Research, Information and Systems
W.E.B. DuBois Library Survey (F97-b)
Executive Summary:Approximately 65% of the students surveyed reported using the Du Bois Library at least monthly last semester. Weekday evenings are the most popular times for library visits, and term paper research, use of electronic databases, book checkout and studying are the most common activities performed there. Almost five-sixths of students reported having at least one class in the semester which required library research. Four-fifths of students reported that they found the materials they were looking for in the library all or most of the time. Over nine-tenths of students expressed the belief that library research skills are very or somewhat important in their fields of study, and almost 88% felt that they are very or somewhat knowledgeable about how to use the Du Bois Library.
On Wednesday, September 24, 1997, Project Pulse conducted a survey designed to explore patterns of student use and satisfaction with the W.E.B. Du Bois Library. Pulse interviewers attempted to contact 783 sophomores, juniors, and seniors who had been randomly selected by computer from the University’s student database. Of these, 524 were successfully contacted, and 436 (83%) agreed to be interviewed. The response rate for the survey was 55.7%. Sampling error is plus or minus approximately five percentage points.
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Table 1: Final Disposition
of the Sample
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|
N
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% of Total
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% of Contacted
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| Response rate (In & cooperated) |
436
|
55.7
|
83.2
|
| In, declined interview |
88
|
11.2
|
16.8
|
| Not in |
259
|
33.1
|
|
| Totals |
783
|
100.0
|
100.0
|
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Table 2: Respondent Demographics
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|
N
|
%
|
|
|
Female
|
176
|
47.1
|
|
Male
|
198
|
52.9
|
|
First-year
|
2
|
5.0
|
|
Sophomore
|
129
|
34.7
|
|
Junior
|
110
|
29.6
|
|
Senior
|
127
|
34.1
|
|
Non-classified
|
4
|
1.1
|
|
Missing
|
2
|
|
|
Live off-campus
|
144
|
38.8
|
|
Average age = 20.6 years
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First, all respondents were asked a screening question to determine whether or not they had taken classes at UMass during last Spring semester. The 62 students who had not were asked no further questions. The remaining 374 students were questioned about their use of the library last semester. Approximately equal numbers (about 29% each) reported using the library a few times per semester, a few times per month, or a few times per week, while 8% (n=30) stated that they had visited the library almost daily (see Figure 1). The 5.3% (n=20) of students who had never used the library were asked no further questions.
Figure 1. Frequency of Student Use of the Du Bois Library (last Spring semester)
Students were asked when they typically visited the library. Half the respondents
(50.8%, n=180) used the library in the evening, three-eighths (38.1%, n=135)
in the afternoon, and only a few (5.9%, n=21) in the morning, with the remaining
5.1% (n=18) reporting that they visited the library at a variety of times. Almost
seven-eighths of students (85.9%,n=304) reported that they typically visited
the library on weekdays, 10.2% (n=36) said that they used it both weekdays and
weekends, and only 4% (n=14) said that they used it primarily on weekends.
Students were asked how many of their courses required research in the Du Bois Library. Their responses are presented in Figure 2.
Figure 2. Last semester, how many courses required you to do research in the Du Bois Library?
The next group of questions queried students about the kinds of activities for which they used the library last spring (see Figure 3). The most frequent activity mentioned was doing research for term papers and projects, which 84.7% of students (n=300) reported doing. Three-quarters of the students surveyed (75%, n=264) used the electronic databases available in the library, 72.9% (n=258) checked out at least one book, and 72.6% (n=257) studied or did homework in the library. Approximately three-fifths of students (59%, n=209) made use of the Reference Desk to obtain information, 56.1% (n=198) read materials on Reserve, 53.8% (n=190) used the library as a place to meet and collaborate with peers, and 51.8% (n=182) used the Computer Labs on the 7th and 16th floors. Only three-eighths of the respondents (37.4%,n=132) gained access to the on-line catalog from outside the library, 34% (n=120) inquired about a book at the Circulation Desk, and 33% (n=119) used microforms. Least typical activities reported were reading for pleasure in the library (30.2%, n=107), ordering materials from other libraries (17.6%, n=62), and using the Learning Support Center (10.8%, n=38).
Figure 3. Reported uses of the Du Bois Library.
The next group of questions explored students’ satisfaction with various
physical attributes and amenities of the Du Bois Library. Several aspects of
the building received very high satisfaction ratings. Over nine-tenths of the
respondents are very or somewhat satisfied with the amount of study space available
(93.7%, n=327), the cleanliness of the building (92%, n=324), and the signs
and directional information (90.2%, n=313). Almost five-sixths of students (82.3%,
n=275) are very or somewhat satisfied with the self-service photocopying equipment.
More than seven-tenths of students are very or somewhat satisfied with the quality
of the lighting (79%, n=278), the air temperature (77.5%, n=272), the furniture
(76.7%, n=270), and the water fountains (73.1%, n=201). The wait time for elevators
is the feature which elicited the least favorable responses in this category,
with 68.3% (n=235) of students somewhat or very satisfied with this service.
Figure 4. Student satisfaction with physical characteristics of the Du Bois Library.
Students were asked to rate their knowledgeability about how to use the Du Bois Library (see Figure 5). Approximately one-fifth (20.5%, n=72) reported that they are very knowledgeable, two-thirds (67.5%, n=237) described themselves as somewhat knowledgeable, 9.7% (n=34) said they are somewhat unknowledgeable, and 2.6% feel they are very unknowledgeable about library use. When asked how important library research skills are for students in their fields of study, over three-fifths of the sample (61.5%, n=216) felt these skills to be very important, and 31.3% (n=110) (see Figure 6) said somewhat important.
Figure 5. How knowledgeable are you about how to use the Du Bois Library?
Figure 6. How important do you feel library research skills are for students in your field of study?
Students were asked to rate their success in finding particular books, journal articles, or other materials at the library. One sixth (16.7%, n=58) reported that they find what they were looking for all of the time. Almost three-fifths (58.8%, n=204) are successful most of the time, 19.6% (n=68) some of the time, 4.0% (n=14) rarely, and 0.9% (n=3) said they never find materials they are looking for. When asked about their level of comfort in asking questions of staff members, over nine-tenths, (92.3%, n=324) reported that they feel somewhat or very comfortable seeking assistance.
