By Mary Taylor

Recently every student, faculty and staff member at Buffalo State College received e-mail asking them to participate in this Web-based survey of library services called LibQUAL+.

LibQUAL+ consists of 47 questions, is confidential and takes about 10 minutes to complete.

A New York State grant, managed by the Western New York Library Resources Council is subsidizing the survey.

LibQUAL+ is a national research and development project undertaken by the Association of Research Libraries in collaboration with the Texas A&M University Libraries.

The questions are designed to measure library service quality. The collected data is analyzed and reports are generated that show how users perceive the quality of their library services. The reports give the individual libraries information on the difference between library users’ desired, perceived, and minimally acceptable levels of service.

Carol Richards, Associate Director at Butler library, said, “The survey will help us to identify where we need to change and how we can improve.”

The survey will show which library services, participants feel fall below their minimum acceptable level. Once these areas are identified steps can be made to improve services in those areas.

SUNY student Beth Dressler took the survey. “I thought it was a little confusing at first because of the way the questions are asked. But after I read it again it made sense. If it helps improve services that’s great.”

For your cooperation participants have a chance to win a prize. Prizes will include gift certificates, and a Palm Tungsten T handheld device (approximate value $399). The prize drawing is voluntary and requires people to enter their e-mail address at the end of the survey.

So here’s your chance to be heard. Do your part to improve library services here at Butler. Click on the link below and take the survey today.

For more information on the survey, privacy concerns and prizes click
http://www.buffalostate.edu/library/
survey.html

Or, to take the survey now, click
http://survey.libqual.org/index.cfm?
ID=183871