2003 Student Library
Survey
Conclusions
Question 1
In the beginning, there was the question...
and what did that prove?
The majority of PCC students chose answer B, indicating that they have been to the library several times and approximately 80% have either been to the library several times or even go there all the time. This is good, but clearly leaves room for improvement. There was a slight increase – approximately 5% - in Lakeland in the number of students who say they go to the library all the time. This increase was almost equal to the increase in the number of students from Winter Haven who, unfortunately, chose answer D and did not know there was a library. This slight increase in over-achievers in Lakeland vs. the slight increase in the clueless in Winter Haven may quite possibly be the simple result of a poor location issue, not poor genetics or vitamin deficiencies, which reviewers considered as possible causes early on. Several students noted in their narrative comments that “the library was way up on the 3rd floor” in Winter Haven. It may be possible that at least some of those students who do not know there is a PCC Library have never ventured up to the 3rd floor. If this is true, the logical solution to reaching this critical group of library clueless and to increasing the “several time” and “all the time” users in general, is to build a new combined library, computer-learning center and café in a prominent ground floor location. Obviously, the best-suited location for this new facility will be the “PCC South Lawn” overlooking the lake. Naturally, the road separating the new "Center" from the lake would have to be removed -- for the safety of the students.
Time will tell...
The Library
Day Student Survey has been issued each fall since 2000. Several trends in
student library use are beginning to surface. When the results of past surveys
are compared, it becomes apparent that the Winter Haven students show a downward
trend in "all the time users" and a slight upward trend in the "several time
users". "One time instructor forced use" was steadily increasing while
those who did not know there was a library was decreasing until this year.
The sudden and unfortunate increase in the number of student who do not know PCC has a library was attributed to the inconvenient 3rd floor location of the library; however, it can be noted that the narrative comments of the surveys where "D" was chosen are generally more "creative" and in some cases contradict the student's answer of "D" Library? What Library?. For example, one survey where the student chose "D" the student also listed one of his top reasons for going to the PCC Library was to [make out] with his girlfriend in the back corner where no one ever is. It is possible that this person assumed there was a back corner where no one ever goes and just made up this comment to entertain the researcher. Researchers do so appreciate that.
Similar usage trends appear in the survey results for the Lakeland campus.
There is an increase in the number of students who consider themselves "several time" users, a decrease in the number of students who consider themselves "all the time users", a sudden decrease this year in "instructor forced" users and an increase in the "what library" crowd as well. With this in mind, it can be assumed that the inconvenience of the 3rd floor location plays second fiddle to the student need to make fun and interesting answers for the researcher -- but why this year? Clearly threatening changes in politics, education spending, fear of war and social injustice are driving PCC students to find emotion release to a stress reaction syndrome any where they can, this year more so than in the past. More research into this area will include psychological testing and role playing with puppets. Mean while additional reserves of candy and relaxing games have been ordered and will be placed in student accessible areas in hopes of alleviating growing stress levels.
Question 2
All information resources are not created equal
Question 2 asked PCC students to share what information resources they preferred to use; PCC Library, Public Library, The Internet, Bookstores, or other.
In general there were more self-proclaimed "Library Freaks" in Lakeland than in Winter Haven - 35% vs.. 26% in Winter Haven. Again, if this can be attributed to the 3rd floor location of the Winter Haven Library or to the need of students to pick the most "fun answer"; however, there is another variable on the Lakeland campus that may skew the results of this question. This variable is Norman. The 9% increase in "Library Freaks" on the Lakeland campus could, quite possibly, be "Norman Freaks" and not pure "Library Freaks". This hypothesis can be strengthened by the collection of narrative comments from the Lakeland Campus Surveys that mention activities like "to watch the guy" or "to see if the cute guy is working".
The Internet was the most popular information resource for PCC students on both the Winter Haven and Lakeland Campuses - surprise! In Lakeland, where all the extra library freaks are, Library and Internet percentages were very close. Both campuses had more "other" information sources than was expected. Unfortunately the subjects did not elaborate on their sources. "Other" could mean television, radio, newspaper, grandmothers, dark alleys...or simply that the student did not know themselves - there is just no way of knowing at this point. Further study into this dark realm of "other" using well fed focus groups or similar trendy and food oriented technique is suggested.
What trends in information resources have been revealed?
Actually, this question was added last year, therefore no trends have been revealed by this data thus far. The numbers from this year's survey results are very similar to the numbers from last year's survey results and the numbers from Winter Haven are very similar to the numbers from Lakeland. In general, the majority - approximately 65 - 70 percent - of students say that they use the Internet or the PCC Library to get their information. Although there are no long term trends to examine, it can be expected that students will continue to utilize the Internet as their major information resource. Reaching these students with information about the positive aspects of using the library's remote access database resources in concert with Internet resources is thus a worthwhile objective for the PCC Library's marketing and outreach. Fulfilling this objective will require cooperation and collaboration with teaching faculty and, as with all marketing and outreach activities aimed at community college students, it will involve large amounts of candy or other sweet bribes in order to be successful.
Question 3
One man's convenient is another's confusion
Question 3 asked students about their use of the PCC databases.
Nearly a quarter - 22% - of both the Winter Haven and the Lakeland students responded that they used the PCC databases "all the time". 48% of Winter Haven students said they "used them when needed" compared to 57% in Lakeland. Lakeland seems to carry a consistent 5 to 10 percent increase in the over-achiever type than Winter Haven. Together that 70 to 79 percent of all students answer A or B. Predictably, more students in Winter Haven thought the databases were "too confusing" - 10% vs. 7% - or did not realize there were database resources available - 20% vs. 13%. Again this increase can be attributed to the 3rd floor location of the Winter Haven Library or the stress reaction syndrome that was touched on in question 1. It may also be worthwhile to note that statistically the student community on the Winter Haven campus is somewhat younger on average than that of the Lakeland campus. The younger students may be more sensitive to the effects of the stress syndrome resulting in a greater need to divert themselves by choosing the least likely answer.
Question 3 2000-2003
Are we stuck in a rut?
Student answers to question 3 have been quite consistent over the years. While it would be gratifying to say that marketing and outreach programs have decreased the number of students who answer either "C - too confusing" or "D - what database?", we cannot. Each year an average of 24% of PCC students chose either "C" or "D" and although there appears to be a slight increase in the number of Winter Haven students who use the databases "all the time", this increase is approximately equal to the decrease in students who "use the databases when needed" in addition to the increase in the number of students who chose "D" this year. The 24% of students who are responding "C" & "D" are definitely an area of outreach need worth exploring.
Lakeland exhibits a similar need, although the number of students in the "C" or "D" range has decreased this year resulting in a substantial gain in the number of students who use the databases "as needed".
Student's tell it like it is - The "Top" Lists
Top Ten Reason PCC Students go to the PCC Library: Winter Haven / Lakeland
Both the Winter Haven and Lakeland campus students agree that the PCC Libraries are good places to go to study, read, do research, use the library resources (makes sense... library resources in the library), get friendly/helpful assistance, and access to free Internet use. These activities constituted the top 1-5 responses for both campuses, albeit not necessarily in that same order for each campus.
More Winter Haven students said that one of the major reasons they would go to the PCC library would be because their instructor made them. In addition to this, they also felt that a good reason to go to the PCC Library would be to use the copy machine (geez, they can do that at the convenience store). The next most popular reason stated by Winter Haven students was "romance". Several students enlightened us to the fact that the PCC Students utilize the more secluded quiet areas of the library for "romantic interludes" and consider the library a viable venue for picking up members of the opposite sex. It might be noted that the Winter Haven campus generally does have a slightly younger student community than the Lakeland Campus who, as noted soon, are more inclined to use the library for more practical purposes.
The Lakeland students find their library staff and librarians "fun and entertaining" and consider that a viable reason to make the trek to the library. They consider the library a good place to meet cool people and hide from annoying people - that works out nicely. They, like the Winter Haven students, do admit that some would consider going to the library only because their instructor forced them. Many admitted that a good reason to go the library would be because there is free printing. If the comments are categorized by broad areas, three basic categories emerge. Through their comments the PCC students present themselves as academically aware, social and fun loving (very social in Winter Haven), and somewhat cheap.
Top "Not's" reveal even more
The narrative comments received from the PCC students reveal that there are several issues that are common to most PCC students. The most common issue presented by students is time. PCC students do not feel they have enough time to do everything they need to do (amazing huh?). Time was the most common reason stated by students for not going to the PCC library. In addition many noted that the location on campus, hours, and distance from their homes kept them from going to the library. Some students commented that they used the Internet from their homes instead. This is a great indicator that more attention to library outreach and education is very import for PCC students. The students revealed in their comments in the Top Ten List above that they know the library has great resources for research, assignments and studying; however, they feel they cannot utilize these resources because of forces beyond their control. If, as it appears, more and more student are opting to rely on the Internet for their information needs because of time, convenience, or what-have-you, the need for additional outreach and education aimed at orienting students to the online version of their library resources as well as the physical is a definite issue to pursue.
Wrap it up and go home?
Libraries have great information sources in a variety of formats that are available both in the physical library and online by logging into the libraries electronic databases. The question is how can students be painlessly introduced and enthusiastically drawn to utilize these great resources: print, electronic, and human, that their library has to offer them? especially considering that they have already paid for the use of these resources within their tuition. As mentioned above PCC students have revealed themselves to be aware of the academic quality of the library, exceptionally pressed for time, and somewhat cheap. It follows that this group of people, so described, would be receptive to orientation and instruction regarding the use of reliable quality library resources that are available via the Internet especially considering the fact that, in the form of their tuition, they have already paid for the use of the these resources. Perhaps playing the "cheap" card is the way to go.
The logical next step is to follow-up with a marketing and research plan aimed at the time strapped, Internet using, and "frugal" PCC student. This will, no doubt, take some caffeine soaked brainstorming sessions - perhaps a retreat in Italy - and hopefully some additional creative input from students.
Please feel free to submit your ideas to referencedesk@polk.edu