Improving Library Services to Satellite Campuses: The Case of the University of Lethbridge

Abstract

A survey was done of instructors at two satellite campuses located at a distance from the main campus of the University of Lethbridge in order to ascertain both utilization and awareness of library resources and services. Results were enlightening, indicating that lack of awareness and communication is one of the biggest obstacles for these distance instructors to make use of the University Library and its services such as information literacy instruction for students.

Improving Library Services to Satellite Campuses: A Follow-Up Study at the University of Lethbridge

“…The response rate for the survey was not as good as when conducted in 2011, which received an overall response rate of 35% (Eva, 2012). There was a 31% response rate from the Calgary campus (18 of a possible 58), but just an 8% response rate from the Edmonton campus (four of a possible 48).…”

“…The survey was taken from the 2011 survey (Eva, 2012) but was slightly modified for clarity based on responses to the earlier survey. Once again, a web-based survey was deemed most logical and efficient for these instructors who for the most part were located in other cities than the author.…”

“…For a number of years it has been in the author's assignment of duties to liaise with the northern campuses and to that end, inspired by a similar survey done in the United States (Kvenild & Bowles-Terry, 2011), a survey was conducted in the fall of 2011 (Eva, 2012). Good responses and insightful comments were received from that survey which would suggest that indeed the anecdotal evidence and assumptions were correct.…”

“…The study here was based on the 2011 survey conducted by Eva (2012), at which point a literature review was conducted. The 2011 survey was itself modeled on a survey conducted by librarians at the University of Wyoming (Kvenild & Bowles-Terry, 2011).…”