[img_inline align=”right” src=”http://padnws01.mcmaster.ca/images/libqual-logo.jpg” caption=”LibQUAL +TM logo”]McMaster's campus libraries would like to know how well they are meeting the needs and expectations of their users. From March 6 – 26, the libraries will participate in LibQUAL +”, a web-based survey which is part of a North American effort led by the Association of Research Libraries(ARL) to measure satisfaction with library services, collections and facilities, and to identify best practices.

In the next few days, an email will be sent to a random selection of undergraduate and graduate students, faculty and staff inviting them to participate in the survey, which takes between 8 and 13 minutes to complete. Responses will be confidential; no identifying links between responses and the individual responding will be retained. The libraries will receive initial results in May, and will share final results with the campus community by fall 2006.

McMaster is one of almost 200 academic libraries participating in this effort. The survey is important because it will:

” help the libraries better understand how the McMaster community rates library services

” allow them to benchmark McMaster results against other research libraries to determine best practices

” let them know where they can concentrate service improvements for McMaster users

For more information, please visithttp://library.mcmaster.ca/libqual.