University Libraries seek faculty and
student input to guide future efforts

The University Libraries invite Washington University faculty and students to complete an online survey to evaluate the Libraries' collections, services, and facilities. The survey takes about ten minutes to complete; go to www.library.wustl.edu and click on "survey" at the bottom of the screen. The survey will be available for response until March 26th.

The Libraries conducted a version of this survey in 2004 and expect to re-survey the community at regular intervals over the coming years. According to Dean of University Libraries Shirley K. Baker, "The results of that first survey allowed us to identify needed improvements and target library resources to meeting those needs. Repeating the survey periodically will allow us to measure our progress over time."

The survey should also provide input that will be helpful as the Libraries' set future objectives. This is particularly useful as the University enters a new planning process for the next decade.

Washington University's Libraries join some 500 other college and university libraries nationwide that are surveying their key user groups. The survey instrument was developed by the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) in concert with scholars expert in assessing service quality.

If you have questions, email Gail Oltmanns, associate dean for organizational development, at goltmanns@wustl.edu.

Date of announcement: 2/23/2007