LibQual+™ Survey FAQ

WHAT is LibQUAL+™?

LibQUAL+™ is a survey developed by the Association of Research Libraries. Its purpose is to provide libraries with an effective, standardized means to measure their users' perceptions and expectations of service.

How will LibQUAL+™ benefit library users at WPI?

The LibQUAL+™ survey gives you a voice in helping Gordon Library determine how we can improve our services as part of our mission in meeting your learning, teaching, and research objectives. In addition, your input enables us to compare service quality among peer institutions as part of a national effort to establish benchmarks and develop best practices for library service.

What is the format of the survey?

The survey consists of 22 core questions as well as text boxes for users' comments. The 22 items measure user perceptions of Service Affect, Information Control, and Library as Place.

How long will it take to complete the survey?

The survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes to complete.

Who will be asked to take the survey?

The students, faculty, and staff of WPI will be asked to participate in the LibQUAL+™ survey.

Are there any special incentives for participation in the survey?

In keeping with our "Go Bananas: Let Your Voice Be Heard" survey promotion theme, all survey participants will be eligible to win some fun and unique gifts:

Banana Split Kit - all the makings for banana splits for you and a few friends
Bananas Boogie Board Kit - boogie board, hot chocolate, and a snow cap
The George C. Collection - fun pack of Curious George items
Go Bananas Movie Night - Bananas! The movie on DVD, banana slippers, popcorn, and a cozy fleece blanket

NOTE: Employees of Gordon Library, with the exception of its student workers, are ineligible for prize incentives.

How will the winner be chosen?

We will recieve a list of 50 random email addresses from LibQUAL+™ (not tied to any survey data), of which we will take the top 4 to distribute the incentive prizes. Prizes can be viewed in the library lobby display cases until February 17th. Prizes will be distributed at the end of February, as soon as we recieve our random list of email addresses.

How and when will the survey be conducted?

On Monday, January 30, WPI Community members will receive an email message from Gordon Library's Director of User Services, containing the URL for the actual survey. You will then have until Friday, February 17 to participate in the survey.

How can I learn more about LibQUAL+™?

For additional information, see the LibQUAL+™ homepage. You are also welcome to contact the LibQUAL+™ Team, by email libqual@wpi.edu.

What other libraries are participating in LibQUAL+™?

WPI, along with over 195 other libraries, are participating in the 2006 LibQUAL+™ survey. For a list of participating institutions go to: LibQUAL+™ Survey Participants.

How confidential are my responses?

Survey participants' privacy is protected in several ways:

Researchers will not disclose information about participants without their permission, as outlined by the ethical standards of the American Psychological Association.
Because only indirect information is captured, tracing information back to a specific individual would be difficult.
Email addresses are collected for incentive purposes only; once saved, there is no way to link a participant's responses to their email address.

Maintained by lib-webmaster@wpi.edu
Last modified: Jul 14, 2006, 15:36 EDT