Information Services Newsletter

Part-Time Students: Library Survey

The Library recognises that part-time students have particular difficulties in making full use of our services. We have recently completed a survey to find out how satisfied part-time students are with our current services and facilities. A survey approach was adopted in order to identify their existing usage of the library, knowledge of services offered and possible requirements for developments in our services. Earlier this year, a questionnaire was designed and made available to part-time students in both electronic and print format. A total of 236 completed questionnaires were returned. To compare our findings with those from the University's most recent Graduation Survey, Educational Development Unit were able to provide a breakdown of responses from part-time students in their Survey.

From an analysis of the available data it would appear that part-time students are more satisfied with the overall library service than full-time students. However, it was found that where services are of particular benefit to part-time students there is a need to promote and publicise these better. The relative lack of knowledge amongst many part-time students regarding existing library services can, in part, be explained by their generally poor participation in the library induction programme. Improvements sought by part-time students included longer opening hours, preferential loan periods and better control of noise levels within the library.

Overall, the survey did serve to highlight the need to do more to publicise our services and to be vigilant in seeking new ways of overcoming the difficulties part-time students face in using the library relative to their full-time counterparts.

Gerard McFall