Washington University Libraries is seeking input from Danforth Campus faculty about the role of the libraries in supporting the needs of researchers and students.
Beginning Tuesday, March 3, instructional faculty are invited to complete the Local Faculty Survey regarding the libraries’ resources and services. The survey runs through Sunday, March 29, and is conducted by Ithaka S+R.
Jeffrey Trzeciak, university librarian, said the survey is a useful tool to help gauge faculty awareness of library services and will help the libraries lead from a data-informed perspective. The information gathered will help inform decisions about collections, resources and services that advance research and scholarship.
Among the topics the survey will focus on include digital research activities, data preservation and management, research dissemination, student research skills and the role of the library.
Trzeciak said the survey will help the libraries better develop, enhance and deliver the collections and services designed to meet the current and future needs of the campus community.
“Together with the broader faculty surveys, we also will be able to benchmark data from Washington University against national data, as well as data from other institutions that have participated in the local surveys,” Trzeciak said.
Provost Holden Thorp, PhD, encourages faculty members, who will receive an email message with a link, to take the survey.
“The library seeks input from all faculty on how to best serve their needs for research and teaching,” Thorp said. “This survey is an important means by which we can determine whether we are hearing from all of the faculty who have needs for the library. I hope everyone will take this opportunity to let us hear from them.”
Washington University will be one of several research libraries participating. Ithaka S+R is a nonprofit organization that helps academic communities use digital technologies, preserve scholarly records and advance research and teaching in a sustainable way. For more information about Ithaka, visit ithaka.org.
For more information about the survey, visit the Washington University Libraries website.