LACIC conducted a needs assessment survey in January 2000. The purpose was twofold:
- To help predict the future use of LACIC based on current library use by LAC faculty and students.
- To help determine the services/resources LACIC should offer.
From the approximately 150 faculty surveyed, there were 30 respondents. From the approximately 150 students surveyed, there were 39 respondents. Of these, 11 were graduate students and 28 were undergratuate students.
1. FUTURE USE OF LACIC
Based on the current use of the Green Library and the library web page, it is important for LACIC to not only have a physical presence within the library, but also a virutal presence. The following table indicates the current use of the Green Library by both faculty and students for LAC purposes. LACIC hopes to increase this use by offering quality services and by better marketing of the services that the library provides.
|
Faculty% / Students% |
| USE |
DAILY |
WEEKLY |
2x/MONTH |
1x/MONTH |
1x/SEM |
NEVER |
| Visit in person |
0/12.8 |
23.3/23.1 |
36.7/17.9 |
16.7/15.4 |
0/10.3 |
16.7/20.5 |
| Phone/Email |
0/7.7 |
40/15.4 |
6.7/15.4 |
6.7/12.8 |
10/10.3 |
26.7/38.5 |
| Visit lib. web |
13.3/7.7 |
36.7/20.5 |
6.717.9 |
3.3/17.9 |
10/10.3 |
23.3/25.6 |
| Visit LACC web |
3.3/2.6 |
13.3/5.1 |
10/15.4 |
13.3/15.4 |
16.7/17.9 |
40/41 |
The majority of the respondents use the Green Library Monday-Friday before 5pm. It is important for LACIC services to be available during these hours, at a mimimum.
|
HOURS AVAILABLE |
FACULTY % |
STUDENTS % |
Mon-Fri before 5 |
86.7 |
87.2 |
Mon-Fri after 5 |
6.7 |
7.7 |
Saturday |
0 |
0 |
Sunday |
0 |
0 |
2. FUTURE SERVICES/RESOURCES AVAILABLE THROUGH LACIC
By measuring the present satisfaction of library services/resources
and the anticipated usefulness of extended LAC services/resources,
it is possible to anticipate the need and usefulness of future services/resources
available through LACIC. Overall, the responses to possible
services/resources were overwhelmingly positive.
SERVICES/RESOURCES USING NOW
(% that Faculty/Students consider service/resource helpful to very helpful.)
|
SERVICE/RESOURCES |
FACULTY |
STUDENTS |
|
Discussion w/ colleagues |
93.3 |
92.4 |
|
References in published materials |
96.7 |
94.8 |
|
Browsing in FIU Stacks |
46.7 |
67.6 |
|
Searching FIU Library Catalog |
83.4 |
84.5 |
|
Searching paper indexes/abstracts |
53.3 |
71.8 |
|
Searching electronic databases |
80.0 |
89.8 |
|
Searching catalogs at other libraries |
66.7 |
71.8 |
|
Seaching the WWW |
73.3 |
87.1 |
|
Assistance from reference desk |
66.7 |
71.8 |
|
Research consultation w/ specialist |
76.6 |
89.7 |
|
Assistance from ILL |
80.0 |
69.2 |
|
Ask a Librarian (email reference) |
30.0 |
76.9 |
|
How-tos, guides created by librarians |
43.3 |
71.8 |
POSSIBLE SERVICES/RESOURCES IN LACIC
(% that Faculty/Students expect service/resource to be helpful to very helpful.)
|
SERVICE/RESOURCES |
FACULTY |
STUDENTS |
|
Discussion w/ colleagues |
93.3 |
92.4 |
|
Computer workstations |
86.6 |
89.8 |
|
Meeting place |
50.0 |
89.7 |
|
Extended research consultations |
70.0 |
94.9 |
|
Print bibliographies/instructional guides |
66.7 |
84.7 |
|
Electronic bibliographies/instructional
guides |
83.3 |
87.1 |
|
Grant/Scholarship/Funding information |
83.4 |
89.7 |
|
Information on career opportunities |
50.0 |
84.6 |
|
Browsing materials, i.e. LAC newsletters |
60.1 |
79.5 |
|
Open library instruction workshops |
80.0 |
92.3 |
|
Course related library instruction |
80.0 |
87.2 |
|
Updates on LAC acquisitions |
86.7 |
87.2 |
|
Assistance w/ LAC collections worldwide |
80.0 |
89.9 |
|
E-mail reference service |
80.0 |
87.2 |
Many respondents provided valuable suggestions and comments, which will be
considered. Again, thank you to all who participated.
