Before You Start

To participate in this study, your survey ID will need to be entered (found on the survey announcement postcard that was mailed to each public library). If you cannot remember and/or locate your survey ID, you may look up the ID number on the right of this screen (your ID number is the same ID number you use when reporting your annual statistics to your state library).

The survey contains questions about specific library system branches as well as system wide questions. Please complete both parts of the survey. If your library system does not have branches, you will be completing a single questionnaire from start to finish. If your library system does have branches, you may be asked to complete questions regarding some of your branches prior to answering questions about your entire system.

We realize that public libraries in each state are organized differently and that the term "system" can mean something different from state to state. By system we mean the central authority for the library - that is, the entity that makes budget decisions, applies for E-rate, and makes other management decisions. We do not use the term "system" to mean regional cooperatives or other forms of federated libraries. If your library system has branches, you may be asked to complete questions regarding some of your branches prior to answering questions about your entire system. By branch, we mean a building that is open to the public and provides services to the community (e.g., lends books, offers public access to the Internet and computers, other).

Your library and the branches (if applicable) were selected to randomly participate in the survey randomly. If your library system has many branches, it is likely that only some of those branches were selected to participate in the survey. If, however, you wish to complete surveys for any of the additional branches we may have identified, you will be given that opportunity (and we would certainly appreciate the extra effort). Simply put, the more data we have for the survey, the more accurate the results of the survey.

The 2009 Survey

If you have any questions regarding the survey, please e-mail us at support@plinternetsurvey.org, or call (301) 405-9445.

The survey has a total of 27 questions, though several have a number of parts to them. Please answer each question as thoroughly and accurately as possible. The survey contains four different types of questions:

  • Some require selecting one answer from an established list of choices;
  • Some require selecting as many answers as appropriate from an established list of choices;
  • Some require supplying a specific number (i.e., number of public access Internet workstations in the library);
  • Some ask you to rate responses on a scale (1-5); and
  • Some require a combination of answer selection and number specification.

Some of the questions in the survey relate to library branches and other questions relate to the library system. If your library system has only one library, all questions will apply to your library. However, if your library system has a number of branches, please collaborate with anyone in the system necessary to properly answer the questions for your library.

The survey is not timed. You may complete part of it, save your answers, and return to it at a later time. You may also answer part of the survey and have other members of your library staff answer other parts, if appropriate. Please be sure to finish filling out the survey by November 13, 2009. Once completed, you will be able to print the answers you provided and keep a copy for your own records.

Upon completion of the survey, you may register to win an Amazon Kindle.

Consent

Participation in this study is voluntary. If you choose not to participate or to withdraw from the study at any time, there will be no penalty. The results of the research may be published, but neither your name nor the name of your library will be used. Contact John Bertot (jbertot@umd.edu) with any questions regarding concerns with the survey and your participation.

Participation in this study will provide important data for years to come. THANK YOU for your willingness to participate!