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Environmental Scan - Political Science/Legal Studies/Public Administration: Findings

Key findings from surveys

Faculty Survey Findings

  • only 8 faculty completed survey, over 70% not represented in survey results
  • 60% use library at least monthly and 75% in the daytime hours.
  • 88% indicated their research was supported by library collections
  • 75% either prefer or have no objection to electronic journals.
  • 50% either prefer or like equally ebooks
  • 75% use ILL but, 25% knew about FADS and nobody used it.
  • 75% prefer e-mail communication
  • 0% indicated interest in social media as a means of communication
  •  

Re: Open Access-  I'm not paying my money to have my work published in a journal that will never have the presteige of a limited access journal.

Student research is required, I set up reserch meetings with my classes and often use library sites for information. 

Summary/Conclusion/Narrative

Findings:

Survey results-  8 faculty (22%) completed survey


Observations

Increasing number of instruction sessions requested by faculty in various courses/programs within the department.

Need to grow this area and identify more opportunities to work with classes & faculty

With over 70% of faculty not represented by survey, any changes based on the survey results must be considered carefully.  

Results of survey-

Over 60% used library at least several times each month.

75% used library in the daytime

88% indicate that library collections support research needs

75% use online research resources once or twice a week

50% prefer electronic journals and another 25% said they like print/electronic formats equally

50% like both equal with respect to print/electronic books.  25%  strongly prefer print

50% like both equally when it comes to print/electronic reference materials.

63% prefer electronic media formats.

37.5% know about faculty toolkits but don't use them.  37.5% don't know about them

100% are aware of ILL  and 75% have used the service

25% aware of FADS but nobody indicated usage of the service.

100% not aware of GRADS

75% prefer e-mail communication

63% prefer library website communication

No interest in social media indicated as means of communication

1 Refworks user and 2 Endnote users

75% do not use mobile devices to access library materials

75% prefer individual professional development options

75% indicated preference for workshop format

75% indicated no interest in recorded tutorials

50% indicated interest in online webinars

63% have not used chat services

50% have used e-mail

No use of  research consultations

75% have not used phone service

88% have not used research/information desk

40% found e-mail reference most useful

75% aware of instructional services and have used for classes.

63% are aware of institutional repository

50% indicated possible participation, with more information

38% indicate that making scholarship available is very valuable

38% indicate calculation of scholarly impact to be very valuable information

38%  indicate help in raising visibility of scholarship is very valuable

38% indicate help with understanding/negotiating publishing contracts is very important

25% Preserving research data is very important

63% don't know if department posts student work to website

75% don't know if the department hosts conferences that are candidates for archiving

75% don't know if department provides support for open access publishing

88% don't know if department has any collections for digitization

88% teach in San Marcos

 

Comments from Survey-

Online Resources-  Excellent and easy to use,

there is a lack of consistency between search results display across different data bases--this is, surely, to be expected, but at times makes it difficult to find contextual information. for example, some links take you directly to the article pdf, while others take you to the abstract page, which contains additional information about the journal issue and list of other articles citing this article, etc.

Interlibrary Loan-  All seems good

Library use via Mobile devices-  Desktop is most useful but, has worked from android tablet, IPad, phone as needed. 

Workshop interests-  Author's Rights & Copyright, Citation management tools, linking to library resources

Reserch Services Improvement-  Not sure it can be improved.  I have found it to be quick and very responsive.   I have found chat transcripts very helpful and often copy them into my Evernote notes.

Instructional Services- Librarians provide outstanding service to me and my students. 

Open Access-  I'm not paying my money to have my work published in a journal that will never have the presteige of a limited access journal.

Digital Deprtmental Collections- "Discourse in democracy" board comments are an excellent collection which, with some assistance in transcription, could potentially become a rich research resource. 

Student research is required, I set up reserch meetings with my classes and often use library sites for information. 

 

 

Graduate Survey Results

8 graduate students completed survey

Survey Results

50% have used chat services

25%  have used e-mail services

63% have used research consultation services

25% have used phone services

38% use Research/Information Desk services

50% found chat service most helpful

75% use research guides

67% use Refworks citation managment via website

50% would not want to access journal articles with a mobile device

86% would like to be able to renew library materials via mobile device

57% would like to be able to request books/articles via a mobile device

63% would like to read a journal article via mobile device

50% would like to read ebook via mobile devices

50% would not like to access online video with mobile device

50% are assisted in research by librarians or library staff

67%  assisted by faculty

50% assisted by other graduate students

63% give presentations before research before complestion

57% are not aware of practice spaces in library

50% usually enrolled full time

50% usually enrolled part time

63% did not receive degrees from Texas State

38% indicated 1-6 year lapse between undergraduate/graduate education

 

Survey Comments

 

collections

 

Collections are decent and I can use my Texshare card to get whatever else I need from UT

Ask A Librarian Services

The librarian I met with didn't help me at all really.  She attempted but did not know how to find French resources translated into English.  

Research Needs 

I practice my presentations at home

Statistical Data

Half of respondents said they  prefer electronic formats and another 25% said they prefer print.