40,000 responses and rising!
12th March, 2009The combined total of responses to the entrance and exit surveys on academic e-book users is at 48,000 and rising!
The first survey of e-books users was undertaken in January 2009 and around 23,000 responses were received. It was thought unlikely that the same level of response would be achieved one year on, but here we are at 23,000 and climbing!
Not only will the results of the surveys tell us about the attitudes, perceptions and use of e-books by staff and students, but they will tell us how best to grab the attention of users. Some innovative techniques have been used by librarian to promote the surveys, for example, at Liverpool University, students will see the survey link right next to the catalogue record for the titles included in the project. This may be why Liverpool University has received such a high response rate:
Top 5 Universities by Response Rate
- University of Birmingham – 2,179 responses
- University College London – 1,727 responses
- Nottingham Trent University – 958 responses
- Liverpool University – 853 responses
- University of Surrey – 830 responses
Finding out how these universities have promoted the survey may be an inspiration to others and tell us what communication methods staff and students respond to best.
The results of the surveys are being analysed currently. Initial findings are being included in the upcoming events.
JISC Collections would like to thank the participating libraries for helping this survey to become the worlds biggest survey of e-book users ever undertaken.