LibQual+ Survey

Change in Respondents

Participation increased from 819 completed surveys in 2015 to 1357 completed in 2022. 

Several factors may have influenced the increase in participation. First, we chose to implement the “lite” version of the survey in 2022, which decreased the number of items that participants had to respond to but distributed all items evenly to ensure adequate data collection. Second, we distributed to a sample only in 2022 and focused on high quality prizes as incentives for completion. In 2015 we distributed to a sample group and advertised, but the incentives were smaller.

For all categories of respondent status, there was more participation at all levels. Notably, graduate student participation more than doubled from 179 in 2015 to 457 in 2022.

Change in Access

When asked how often they use resources on the premises, respondents use the physical space less frequently. 

• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries daily dropped from 19% in 2015 to 7% in 2022. 
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries weekly dropped from 40% in 2015 to 30% in 2022. 
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries monthly rose from 19% in 2015 to 23% in 2022.
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries quarterly rose from 16% in 2015 to 21% in 2022.
• The proportion of respondents that did not use physical library services rose from 6% in 2015 to 19% in 2022. 

Conversely, respondents use the Libraries' digital resources through the webpage a little more frequently. 

• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries' webpage daily dropped from 21% in 2015 to 17% in 2022. 
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries' webpage weekly rose from 37% in 2015 to 41% in 2022. 
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries' webpage monthly rose from 21% in 2015 to 23% in 2022.
• The proportion of respondents that used the Libraries' webpage quarterly rose from 12% in 2015 to 13% in 2022. 
• The proportion of respondents that did not use the Libraries' webpage dropped from 8% in 2025 to 6% in 2022.

Affect of Service

Of the nine categories in Affect of Service, The Libraries rated significantly higher among respondents on four categories:

• Giving users individual attention (+0.20)
• Employees who are consistently courteous (+0.23)
• Employees who deal with users in a caring fashion (+0.17)
• Dependability in handling users' service problems (+0.30)

Information Control

Of the eight categories in Information Control, The Libraries rated significantly higher among respondents on four categories:

• A library Web site enabling me to locate information on my own (+0.23)
• The printed library materials I need for my work (+0.56)
• The electronic information resources I need (+0.39)
• Easy-to-use access tools that allow me to find things on my own (+0.35)

Library as Place

Of the five categories in Library as Place, The Libraries rated significantly higher among respondents on four categories:

• Library space that inspires study and learning (+0.45)
• Quiet space for individual activities (+0.55)
• A getaway for study, learning, or research (+0.28)
• Community space for group learning and group study (+0.24)

Information Literacy

For all five categories in Information Literacy, The Libraries rated significantly higher among respondents:

• The library helps me stay abreast of developments in my field(s) of interest (+0.39)
• The library aids my advancement in my academic discipline or work (+0.23)
• The library enables me to be more efficient in my academic pursuits or work (+0.21)
• The library helps me distinguish between trustworthy and untrustworthy information (+0.29)
• The library provides me with the information skills I need in my work or study (+0.40)

Undergraduate students

Scores for two items exceeded the Superiority threshold, with the perception of community space showing significant improvement. 

• Affect of Service / Giving users individual attention (+0.23 from 2015 to 2022)
• Library as Place / Community space for group learning and group study (+0.30 from 2015 to 2022)

Faculty

Scores for faculty showed many significant differences between 2015 and 2022. 
User confidence dropped significantly among faculty:

• Affect of Service / Employees who instill confidence in users (-0.50)

Some comments from faculty members expressed upset about the transition away from content librarians being present at the Help Desk.

In several other categories, Adequacy scores among faculty improved from 2015 to 2022:

• Affect of Service / Giving users individual attention (+0.49)
• Affect of Service / Employees who are consistently courteous (+0.29)
• Information Control / A library Web site enabling me to locate information on my own (+0.24)
• Information Control / The electronic information resources I need (+0.70)
• Information Control / Easy-to-use access tools that allow me to find things on my own (+0.46)
• Information Control / Making information easily accessible for independent use (+0.39)
• Information Control / Print and/or electronic journal collections I require for my work (+0.65)
• Library as Place / Library space that inspires study and learning (+0.53)
• Library as Place / Quiet space for individual activities (+1.00)
• Library as Place / A comfortable and inviting location (+0.59)

In Affect of Service and Library as Place, the listed categories rated highly enough to exceed Desired ratings. Information Control was a sore point for faculty in 2015. Adequacy scores improved on 4 measures, bringing them above minimum. The Libraries’ website was below minimum in 2015, and though perception improved, faculty still score website use as below minimum (almost at minimum, -0.09).