Monday, March 28, 2011

Collection development & acquisitions: Sample library survey

This survey is based on one drafted by Barbara Doyle and Veronica Storey-Ewalt and published in: Evans, G. Edward. Developing Library and Information Center Collections. 3rd Ed. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1995. 65-66.

The staff and directors of the Anytown Public Library are conducting this survey to evaluate library service and plan for the future. Check off the boxes which best reflect your knowledge, use or opinion. Your input is valuable to us.

1. Do you know the location of Anytown Public Library?

Yes No

2. Have you ever used the library?

Yes No

3. Is there another library you use regularly?

Yes No

Which library?

Why?

4. When was the last time you used the Anytown Public Library?

In the last week In the last six months
In the last month In the last year
In the last three months

5. Why do you usually come to the library?
Keeping up on a subject Sports or recreation
Making or fixing something Personal or family health
My work or job Government information
A hobby To attend a program
Personal interests To bring my children
Class or course reading A course paper or report
Other:

6. How often do you find what you are looking for?
Less than 50% of the time
50 – 75% of the time
More than 75% of the time

7. Which of these items have you checked out from the library?
Paperback books Magazines
CDs Newspapers
Audiocassettes Children's toys
Films Cameras
Video cassettes Art prints
Equipment loan Maps

8. Which of these services have you used?
Children's storytime Bookmobile
Website Teen homework help
Films or lectures Referral to other places
Adult tutoring Materials by mail
Computer training Online chat with reference staff
Materials from other libraries Phoning the library to answer a reference question

9. What two things would increase your use of or satisfaction with the library?

Open longer hours More newspapers
More help with looking for books or materials More copies of a popular book
More help answering questions More childrens' materials
More teen materials More adult materials
More programs More magazines
More electronic magazines More video materials

10. What age group are you in?

under 12 19 - 39 65+
13 - 18 40 - 64

11. Sex:
Male Female

12. Occupation
Agricultural Business/Professional Military Government
Homemaker Industry/Manufacturing Retail
Retired Student Unemployed

13. What was your approximate household income last year?
$0 - $9,999 $35,000 - $44,999
$10,000 - $14,999 $45,000 or more
$15,000 - $24,999 Don't know
$25,000 - $34,999 Prefer not to say

14. Highest education level you have reached:

Less than high school Some college
High school graduate College graduate

15. Number of people in your household:

16. Number of library card holders in your household:

17. How long have you lived in Anytown?
All my life 10 - 20 years Less than 5 years
20 years or more 5 - 10 years

18. Part of town you live in (please circle number on the map below which is closest to your home).


Thank you for taking the time to answer this survey. Do you have any other comments or questions for us? Please mention them in the space provided on the next page.

Survey results highlightsHighlights from a community survey by Barbara Doyle and Veronica Storey-Ewalt and published in: Evans, G. Edward. Developing Library and Information Center Collections. 3rd Ed. Englewood, Colo.: Libraries Unlimited, 1995. 67.


Requested materials or services:
More romance, mystery, westerns
Open evenings and all day Saturday
More magazines
New children’s books

Subject areas of interest:Medicine
Agriculture (general and animal husbandry)
Home economics (cooking, nutrition, sewing, child rearing)
Children’s in 300/500/600 Dewey classes and fiction
Sociology and anthropology

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