1. LibQUAL+ in the UK & Ireland: five years experience
J. Stephen Town and Selena Lock,
Cranfield University

2. Summary The overall SCONUL experience
Some detailed results and observations
Some thoughts on the role of LibQUAL+ in the context of ‘national’ academic library measurement

3. The SCONUL Experience

4. Conclusions
LibQUAL+ successfully applied to the UK & Irish academic library sector (and beyond)
Provided first comparative data on academic library user satisfaction in the UK
Twenty institutions have conducted repeat surveys
Substantial impact of the results within institutions

5. Response Comparisons SCONUL 2003 SCONUL 2004 SCONUL 2005 SCONUL 2006
20 institutions
11,919 respondents
SCONUL 2004
16 institutions
16,611 respondents
Increase by 4,692
SCONUL 2005
17,355 respondents
Increase by 744
SCONUL 2006
19,108 respondents
Increase by 1,753
LibQUAL+ 2003
308 institutions
128,958 respondents
LibQUAL+ 2004
202 institutions
112,551 respondents
Decrease by 16,407
LibQUAL+ 2005
199 institutions
108,504 respondents
Decrease by 4,047
LibQUAL+ 2006
298 institutions
176,360 respondents
Increase by 67,856

6. Overall Potential UK Sample to 2007
Full variety of institutions
49% of institutions*
53% of HE students (>850,000)
36% of Libraries
45% of Library expenditure
*Based on Universities UK membership of 126

7. Detailed results and observations

8. Some questions?
What is important to UK & Irish academic library users and non-users?
What do the SCONUL cohort results over the past five years indicate about UK academic library performance and the influence of survey use?
How does this compare to US results?
What does all this mean in the broader context of library evaluation and quality development?

9. SCONUL Cohort priorities

10. Most Desired Aspects Years appeared in top 5 desired Question text
Making electronic resources accessible from my home or office 5
Print and/or electronic journal collections I require for my work 4
A library Web site enabling me to locate information on my own
The electronic information resources I need
Easy-to-use access tools that allow me to find things on my own 3
Modern equipment that lets me easily access needed information

11. Least Desired Aspects Question text Years appeared in bottom 5 desired
A comfortable and inviting location 5
Library staff who deal with users in a caring fashion
Library staff who instil confidence in users 4
Giving users individual attention
Space for group learning and group study

12. Longitudinal Analysis
Data from 2003 to 2007 (Session 1)

13. Dimensions of Quality Five-year analysis

14. Affect of Service Five-year analysis

15. Information Control Five-year analysis

16. Library as Place Five-year analysis

17. Overall Five-Year Analysis by User Group

18. Radar Charts

19. SCONUL Core Question Summary 2003

20. SCONUL Core Question Summary 2004

21. SCONUL Core Question Summary 2005

22. SCONUL Core Question Summary 2006

23. SCONUL Core Question Summary 2007 Session 1

24. SCONUL Undergraduate Results 2004

25. SCONUL Undergraduate Results 2005

26. SCONUL Undergraduate Results 2006

27. SCONUL Undergraduate Results 2007 Session 1

28. SCONUL Postgraduate Results 2004

29. SCONUL Postgraduate Results 2005

30. SCONUL Postgraduate Results 2006

31. SCONUL Postgraduate Results 2007 Session 1

32. SCONUL Academic Staff Results 2004

33. SCONUL Academic Staff Results 2005

34. SCONUL Academic Staff Results 2006

35. SCONUL Academic Staff Results 2007 Session 1

36. SCONUL Library Staff Results 2004

37. SCONUL Library Staff Results 2005

38. SCONUL Library Staff Results 2006

39. SCONUL Library Staff Results 2007 Session 1

40. ARL College or University Summary 2004

41. ARL College or University Summary 2005

42. ARL College or University Summary 2006

43. US & UK Desired Comparisons

48. The ‘national’ role for LibQUAL+?
Conclusions
The ‘national’ role for LibQUAL+?

49. Discussion
National standardised comparative user satisfaction & benchmarking
‘Globalisation’ and international comparisons
The Quality Assurance role
The QA cycle
The Impact & Value role

50. J. Stephen Town & Selena Lock
Correspondence to: