1. All Starting from Baseline Data: What Can We Do with Library Resources and Services?
Hong Li Xiaocan (Lucy) Wang
Head, Technical Services Librarian Emerging Technologies/Systems Librarian

2. Missouri Southern State University (MSSU)
MSSU: Joplin, Missouri
mSSU: four schools, 140 academic programs, over 6,000 students
Distance Learning/MSSU Online

3. George A. Spiva Library MOBIUS Consortium member Various systems
Over 20 different collections
Over 360, 000 items
Online resources

4. The Distance Learning Program Data
As of 2017 Fall: 7,002 taking one or more DE courses, and 3,264 taking exclusive DE courses
DE courses and programs increase from 2013/14
The corresponding DE credit hours increases

5. Library Support and Services to Distance Learning
The primary goal is to provide optimal support as well as equal access to library resources and services
What have we done with our goal?
What can we do with our goal?
Collect baseline data through ASSESSMENT!

6. A Survey to Obtain Baseline Data
Purpose of the survey:
Awareness
Utilization
Population of the survey
1,050 students
Leader of the survey
The Library Assessment Committee
Survey questions
12 survey questions
Method of the survey
through the Qualtrics system

7. Survey Results Participants: 292 students, 28%
166 of 292 (56.8%): have used library online resources or services
111 of 292 (38%): have NOT used library online resources or services

8. Survey Results (continued)
Awareness of tools and methods to locate and obtain library materials
Library webpage – 77.7%
A-Z Database list – 68.5%
Mobius catalog – 47.3%
Summon search – 42.1%
Interlibrary loan – 41.1%
SWAN catalog – 38.0%
LibGuides – 37.7%

9. Survey Results (continued)
Awareness of Library Services: assistance, instruction and consultation
Assistance at service desk – 80.8%
Assistance via , chat/IM, phone, text/SMS – 49.0%
LibGuides – 36.6%
Class instruction – 31.2%
Personal research consultation – 27.4%

10. Survey Results (continued)
Demographic information
Age range: 15 (youngest) – 57 (eldest); 49% between 19 and 23
Class rank: senior (43%), junior (24%), sophomore (15%), and freshman (11%)
Major focus group: Business, Criminal Justice, Education, Biology, and Health Science

11. What Found from the Survey
More than half of the surveyed distance students have used library’s resources and services
The lower awareness of existence of LibGuides
The lower awareness of roles of librarians
Face-to-face contact preferred
More upperclassmen (junior and senior) responded to the survey vs. small number of underclassmen (freshman and sophomore)
The major group respondents : CJAD, EDUC and MRKT

12. What Found from behind the Survey
The definition of distance students: clarification
Adjunct faculty:
Hard to reach
Their influence
The importance to communicate with adjunct faculty
The necessity to reach out adjunct faculty and through them distance students OR

13. Actions Taken New Distance Learning Services webpage
Library orientation videos:
for distance students and 10 Question Quiz
for adjunct faculty
Library organization page in Blackboard
Book-a-Librarian Service

14. Action One: library webpage for distance learning

15. Action Two: library orientation videos
For distance students
For adjunct faculty

16. Action Three: library search tools guide

17. Action Four: library information embedded in Blackboard

18. Action Five: Book-a-Librarian service

19. Lessons Learned … The significance of baseline data
Survey design and manipulation
Future tasks of the Library Assessment Committee
Campus-wide collaboration
A centralized place/office

20. Future Plans Increase collaboration with campus departments
Create marketing and promotion campaign
Conduct assessment projects for the Actions Taken

21. Questions?