The Harold Schiffman Music LibraryTeam 4 Needs AssessmentDavid Covert, Mia Jordan, Rachel

Koury,Lara Patterson, Savannah Whitaker

Overview

Purpose• Our Library

Methods• Patron Count Data• HSML Patron Survey• Focus Group

ResultsConclusions

Our Library (and Purpose)

• Located in the School of

Music, Theatre and Dance

• Needs assessment was

needed to determine what

hours, if any, could be cut

• The best way to do this was

to survey students and analyze

data

Methods: Patron Count Data -We were provided HSML’s patron head count numbers by day and hour for the

years 2012 and 2013 (by month)

- Used the original data to make our own averages by day and hour for the entire 2013 school year (fall and spring semesters and then for the summer semester of 2013)

- Color-coded the averages to show which hours the library is least used (least used, second least used, and third least used) and at which hour the library is most used on each day of the week. Made Graphs.

- Overall, HSML has low patron counts the first hour that it is usually open (8am on weekdays, 10am on Saturdays, or 1pm on Sundays) and on Saturdays. The highest patron counts were on weekday afternoons between 12pm and 4pm

Methods: Patron Count Data

Spring and Fall 2013

Methods: Patron Count Data

Summer 2013

Methods: HSML Patron Survey

• Purpose: To discover HSML patrons’ thoughts and feelings about the library’s multiple services and resources

• Technology, helpfulness of staff, print and online resources, facilities, the environment, and hours of operation

• Results:o 75 responses (less than we’d hoped)o Freshmen, Sophomores, Juniors, Seniors, Graduate, Facultyo 96% of participants were happy with the HSML’s technology,

environment, resources, and printing serviceso Positive results for hours of operation, but more students

(20%) were not satisfied

Methods: HSML Patron Survey

Results:● Varied responses for days/times of greatest use

○ 50% of patrons prefer weekdays○ Mornings unpopular ○ Only 22% reported to visiting HSML on

Saturdays

● The Focus Group○ 4 agreed to attend○ Topics of interest: extending nighttime hours, online

resources, and small group spaces

Methods: Focus Group

• Interest gauged via the assessment survey

• Emails sent out to all interested parties, as well as to those answering unsatisfied or very unsatisfied to any survey question

• Focus group promoted by follow-up email, word of mouth, & signs posted in the library

• Donut incentives offered to participants

Focus group date & time:Friday, April 11th at 4:30pm

Methods: Focus GroupSix participants - 1 freshman, 1 sophomore, 2 juniors, 1 masters student, and one doctoral candidate

Questions discussed:#1 – Tell us a bit about yourselves and how you use the music library.

#2 – What services of the music library do you use the most? (ie printing, databases, physical library resources, research assistance, etc)

#3 – When did you last encounter a problem at the music library and how did you resolve this?

#4- Do the music library’s computers and software meet your needs? Are there enough computers?

#5 – What are your views on the library’s current hours of operation?

#6 – What is one service you would change or modify? Why?

#7 – Do you have any final comments about the music library?

Results and Recommendations

• The data reveals to us, if hours are to be cut from the schedule, the opening hours each day and Saturdays should be considered in both the academic year and the summer session

• From focus group feedback we discovered some of these options may not be possible, so alternatives would have to be found

Conclusion

• We have made many efforts to ensure the best choice is made for the Harold Schiffman Music Library

• Our data is both qualitative and quantitative

• These are only our recommendations

• We hope us bringing forth facts, statistics, and opinions will help in beginning the discussion