Uncovering the Evidence: Faculty Perceptions of Distance Library Services

Abstract

Usage statistics are a regular part of assessment but the lack of context leaves librarians pondering the reasons for fluctuations in use. Through development of an online survey, we examined faculty perceptions, knowledge, and use of distance library services to support online courses. Responses provided much needed context and helped to determine priorities and direction for services. While this survey was a useful marketing tool, results emphasized that the greatest need was for ongoing communication with faculty to increase awareness of services provided.Keywords: academic libraries, faculty, distance library services, assessment UNCOVERING THE EVIDENCE With the persistent need for academic libraries to justify their services in the context of the university's wider mission, it is imperative that individual units routinely assess their services to ensure they support the unit goals, the larger goals of the library, as well as the university and the patrons for whom they are providing these services.Since its inception, the University of Victoria's (UVic) Distance Learning and Research unit has regularly collected usage statistics around reference, instruction, and material delivery; however this only tells part of the picture. Usage statistics are not evaluative. Taken on their own, they do not reveal the impact a unit has on its main user group or its contribution to the larger library and university goals. Solicited feedback from service users can provide nuanced feedback on the unit's value and bolster funding or staffing decisions when it is apparent that well-regarded, high quality services are being provided, regardless of fluctuations in use.Regular assessment of services, along with usage statistics, is just good practice, and can provide a more fulsome picture of what a particular unit does, why they are doing it, and how well they are doing it in the eyes of their main user groups. To complement a survey of distance students at UVic conducted in 2009 1 , the authors decided to utilize an evidence-based form of inquiry to explore faculty perceptions of our services. Distance library services at UVicThe Distance Learning and Research team at UVic Libraries currently consists of two full-time librarians and one administrative staff member. Distance Education programing at UVic was initiated by the Division of Continuing Studies (DCS) in the late 1970s in partnership 1 As this was an internal survey that did not go through the University's ethics review board, details cannot be publicly shared. While some studies may incorporate other methods in their research, the survey is commonly the key component to inquiries of this nature. Shaffer, Finkelstein, & Lyden (2004) started their inquiry with a small focus group of distance faculty and used the resulting feedback to assist in developing the survey questions and identifying faculty who would serve as participants. In a similar vein, a later study by Kvenild and Bowles-Terry (2011) first conducted phone interviews with known distance faculty to h...