The Technical and Electronic Information Department, which is responsible for the Lab’s libraries, recently worked with the Computing and Communications Services Advisory Committee (CSAC) to survey members of scientific divisions about future library services. TEID Head Jane Tierney gave a summary of the responses received from the survey to CSAC members. The survey grew out of a six-month study of how the library should adapt to meet changing needs and demands, ranging from significantly higher journal subscription rates to space constraints to changing preferences of users.

Seventy-five researchers were invited to complete the survey, and 60 of them did so. The survey presented a range of services adding up to 60 points and each respondent was given 40 points to “spend” on the services they wanted most. This format required them to make choices between cost and convenience. The results, Tierney reported, reflected very differing views.

For example, on the question of using the main library in Bldg. 50, 25 percent responded they did so once a week, or more; 18 percent said never and 29 percent answered once a month. Regarding on-line usage, 56 percent said they do so at least twice a week, a finding Tierney called “very telling” about user preferences. Tierney’s presentation can be found by following a link from the November CSAC meeting minutes.

Read comments from the survey.