Does Size Matter? The Effect of Resource Base on Faculty Service Quality Perceptions in Academic Libraries

We explore whether the relative size of an academic library's resource base, as indicated by the Carnegie classification of the library's parent institution, impacts faculty perceptions of library service quality. Using results from the 2006 administration of the LibQUAL+® survey, the study tests for statistically significant differences between research universities and masters-level universities in terms of faculty minimum, perceived, desired and adequacy gap scores for each of the three LibQUAL+® service dimensions (Information Control, Library as Place, and Affect of Service). Findings suggest that university type does impact expectations and perceptions of service quality, but does not impact ratings of service adequacy, the extent to which faculty perceive that a library meets their expectations

We Can Imagine the Future, But Are We Equipped to Create It?

This special issue of portal: Libraries and the Academy explores the possibilities of what academic libraries might become or cease to be in a speculative future. Experts from different sectors of the academic library ecosystem were asked to share their visions of the future, with the intention of providing insights that might fuel the creation of vital futures for academic libraries and librarians. The author argues for a future focus on developing the metacognitive capacities of the people who make up academic libraries in order to build effective, growth-oriented, resilient organizations that can actually create the futures they imagine

Comparing Service Priorities Between Staff and Users in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Member Libraries

Using the results for participating Association of Research Libraries from the 2006 LibQUAL+® library service quality survey, we examine the service priorities of library staff (for example, whether desired scores for each survey item are above or below average) and the extent to which they are aligned with the priorities of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Item priorities were compared among the four groups using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to correct for the non-independence of responses within institutions. Results indicate that substantial misalignments between library staff and users exist; library staff set a lower service priority for most LibQUAL+® Information Control items and a higher priority on almost all Affect of Service items than did users

Getting our priorities in order: are our service values in line with the communities we serve?

Purpose – LibQUAL+® allows users to rate their minimum, perceived, and desired levels of service for 22 items in three dimensions: information control, library as place, and service affect. Using the results from the 2005 survey at the University of Texas at Austin, this paper aims to examine how well the service priorities of library staff are aligned with the priorities of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Design/methodology/approach – The paper has re-scaled the "desired" score for each item to reflect the degree to which the item is above or below the average desired level for that individual. The rescaled scores (termed "priority" scores) for the 22 items were then compared between the four groups using a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). Findings – Preliminary results indicate that service priorities for library staff align more closely with those of undergraduates than with those of graduate students and faculty. Practical implications – This analysis is a first step in identifying service priority gaps between library staff and the users they serve. The intention is to promote discussion among library staff about users' needs and how closely staff service priorities align with those needs. In addition, the findings may prove useful as management information by allowing the analysis of users' service priorities and integrating the results of this analysis into organizational decision making and planning processes. Originality/value – This paper describes a development of LibQUAL+® that enables a greater depth of understanding of service priorities

Comparing Service Priorities Between Staff and Users in Association of Research Libraries (ARL) Member Libraries

Using the results for participating Association of Research Libraries from the 2006 LibQUAL+® library service quality survey, we examine the service priorities of library staff (for example, whether desired scores for each survey item are above or below average) and the extent to which they are aligned with the priorities of undergraduates, graduate students, and faculty. Item priorities were compared among the four groups using hierarchical linear modeling (HLM) to correct for the non-independence of responses within institutions. Results indicate that substantial misalignments between library staff and users exist; library staff set a lower service priority for most LibQUAL+® Information Control items and a higher priority on almost all Affect of Service items than did users

Trading Places: Adapting Research Library Space to Evolving Scholarly Practices at Columbia University

The evolution of library space utilization at Columbia University over the past decade is characterized as a realignment of library space with changing educational and research missions through the purposeful reallocation of space from collections storage and processing to emerging, strategically important priorities. This evolution is discussed as a series of strategic trade-offs – trading places for diverse purposes, with various partners, but always toward the end of active, meaningful engagement with the research and teaching activities of faculty and students. Whether it is the conversion of collections space to increase and improve student workspace, to build needed classrooms or laboratories for faculty, to incentivize and support important new service partnerships, or even to leverage financial resources to further other organizational priorities, an intentional, flexible approach to library space planning is essential to the ongoing vitality of research library organizations and the services provided to the scholarly communities they support

The Model Land-Grant Library at Ohio State

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