LibQUAL: Spotlight on Users

Steps to Success: the Sequel

Once again, we’ve heard your concerns, and once again we’re responding.

The 2009 LibQUAL survey, conducted at UBC Vancouver, provided UBC Library with another excellent overview of its users and their needs. It also reinforced some concerns that were identified in the previous survey, conducted in 2007 at the Vancouver and Okanagan campuses.

In 2009, the key themes from respondents were access, content, and better physical and virtual spaces. 

Respondents identified areas to be addressed, including: 

• the difficulty in using the Library website to find resources and information about the Library system
• collections gaps
• the need for more group study spaces, individual quiet learning spaces and up-to-date equipment.

As a result, we’ve been busy making improvements to our resources and services.

To address collections gaps, the Library has added specialized collections and discovery tools in the fine arts, music, humanities, social sciences, life sciences, sciences and medicine. Examples include:

• more than 53,000 new e-books
• nearly 1,000 replacement copies obtained for missing books
• the addition of discovery tools, such as ASTM standards, LGBT Life, Business & Company Resource Center, International Monetary Fund Statistical, Canadian Newstand (230 newspapers), Archivision, Education Full Text, House of Commons Parliamentary Papers from 1715 to present and more.
• the purchase of e-journal archives: Nature from 1869, Lancet from 1823, China Academic Journals from 1994, Sage Deep Backfile, Web of Science from 1900 and more.
• added e-book collections: Oxford Scholarship Online – Music Collection, Springer e-books 2005-2009, ChinaMaxx, ebrary (more than 36,000 e-books) and more
• digitized more than 11,000 retrospective UBC theses and dissertations
• digitized 1.6 million pages/images/titles, including unique local collections from Rare Books and Special Collections and University Archives

To improve the findability of traditional materials, the Library:

• implemented an inventory of Koerner Library to identify “not on the shelf” items
• removed 75,000 under-used duplicate books from Koerner to create space for the integration of humanities and social sciences titles from their previous location in the Irving K. Barber Learning Centre
• moved Music Library LP recordings to the automated storage and retrieval system to make room for new books
• improved finding aids on the Library website for Rare Books and Special Collections
• added more than 500 catalogue records for British Columbia maps

To improve the findability of electronic resources and Library information, the Library:

• implemented a single search box to make it easier to find e-resources
• added 60,000 records for electronic journals and 235,000 records for e-books to the catalogue
• enhanced records for the music recordings collection
• enriched the catalogue with a “Tables of Contents” index to 220,000 English-language print books – especially useful for finding individual essays and chapters in collections and anthologies by different authors

To address customer service gaps, including teaching and learning gaps, the Library has:

• taught 1,421 classes on information resources and tools to more than 32,000 participants
• worked with student focus groups to improve services at UBC Okanagan
• improved access to multimedia technology, as well as IT help, by staffing the Chapman Learning Commons with a student team trained in learning technology support
• accelerated delivery of interlibrary loan materials via the ILL Post-to-Web program
• created teaching tutorial, assignment guides and new subject guides
• introduced a self-service hold shelf in Koerner Library
• presented an interdisciplinary workshop targeting graduate students and faculty that helps researchers keep up-to-date with new research in their field.

To improve space and equipment needs, the Library has:

• renovated the inspiring Field Reading Room at UBC Okanagan for quiet study
• opened the Learning Centre 24/7 a week earlier, before exams begin
• added 200 group and individual study spaces in the Learning Centre
• added flexible furniture in the Lillooet Room for teaching and learning
• expanded weekend hours at UBC Okanagan and open hours at Robson Square
• added 12 Macs at the Learning Centre, 44 computer workstations and 10 laptops at UBC Okanagan
• increased security and removed graffiti at Koerner Library

 Significant additions or improvements are also planned, including:

• the creation of a data/GIS Lab and the implementation of GIS services in Koerner Library
• the configuration of EZproxy single-solution remote access for all UBC library users to be deployed in mid-2010
• a new Library homepage design to be deployed in January 2010
• equipment and signage for Rare Books and Special Collections and Woodward Library
• a “Find Me” feature on the Learning Centre website to assist students in locating members of their study group within the facility
• a new Canaccord Learning Commons for the David Lam Library