Analysis of LibQual+ 2006 Respondent Comments

VCU Libraries staff have analyzed comments received from over 650 respondents in our 2006 survey. The number of comments received from each respondent group is as follows :

Respondent Groups	Number in group commenting	Total respondents	Link to report for each Group
Faculty	106	252	Faculty Report
Grad Students	195	437	Grad Student Report
Libraries Staff	10	29	Libraries Staff report
Staff	24	87	Staff report
Undergrads	324	744	Undergrad Report
	659	1,549

Comment analysis makes it possible to look at trends in the different respondent groups and helps us determine the priorities of the different groups. Analysis was done by coding each comment with 1-3 content codes. The coding scheme matches the three areas assessed by the LibQual+ survey (Services, Collections & Access, and Library as Place) as well as General comments. Coding involved categorizing the comment and indicating whether it was positive or negative. The comment analysis supplements the LibQual+ survey results and provides a sharper focus of the concerns of our users.

The comment analysis reports include the text of some representative comments for each respondent group. The VCU Libraries appreciates the comments from all survey repondents. We find the words of users do tell us what our users think. Understanding and using respondent comments to strengthen services, resources, and facilities is an important part of the LibQual+ survey process.

 

Coding and categories used for comment analysis
Services	Collections & Access	Place/Environment	General	Other
S1 Circulation	C1 Convenient access to collection	P1 Atmosophere	G1	O1
S2 Interlibrary Loan	C2 E-journals, databases	P2 Building/Facilities	G2	O2
S3 Library hours	C3 Physical Collection	P3 Facilitates quiet study	G3	O3
S4 Staff Behavior	C4 Subject Collections	P4 Safety	G4	O4
S5 Other Service Related	C5 Technology/Equipment	P5 Security
	C6 Other collection/access related	P6 Study space
		P7 Other Place/Env related