In an effort to better understand members’ needs and their perception of the TDL’s work, the Texas Digital Library conducted its first survey of the TDL membership in the summer and fall of 2012. The survey questionnaire, developed by a member-driven committee, looked for feedback in three areas:
- the TDL suite of services
- outreach and promotion related to the TDL
- the TDL’s organizational structure
Among the key findings from the survey:
- DSpace and Vireo are the most valued services provided by the TDL.
- Among the most requested improvements to TDL services were enhancements to the DSpace/repository offering, enhancements to the online journal service, and more customization options across all services.
- Perception of the value of the TDL Helpdesk has improved over the past year, though more improvements are needed.
- Faculty resistance to Open Access/new publishing models remains a key challenge to recruiting faculty involvement with TDL services. However, improving “user friendliness” of TDL services might be one way to overcome this resistance.
- Among the TDL’s various user groups and working groups, the Vireo Users Group is considered very valuable.
The insights gained from the 2012 Member Survey will guide the TDL Governing Board and staff as they move forward with new initiatives. Additionally, in spring 2013, the TDL will conduct a companion survey of non-member library directors to gain further insight into the needs of Texas academic libraries.
For more detailed survey results and analysis, please read the full report.