The national user surveys of Finnish libraries collect information on the use of library services, customer satisfaction and the effectiveness of services. The surveys are aimed at the end users of public, university and special libraries and have been conducted as online surveys. The identical questionnaires used in the surveys enable the comparison within and between the library sectors, as well as the examination of trends. FSD collections cover data for 2008, 2010, 2013 and 2018.
The survey investigated user perceptions of university libraries in Finland. Main themes included types of library use, library collections, electronic library resources and other services provided, as well as the perceived impact of the services.
First, the respondents were asked how often they visited the library they were evaluating, what they normally did when visiting the library, and which library services and electronic resources they used. Views were probed on the library as a service environment, library collections, electronic library services, and guidance provided for information seeking. The respondents were asked how well the library had succeeded as a whole in providing services. The ways in which the library services had benefited their work, studies or other activities were also explored.
Background variables included the library evaluated, the respondent's gender, age group, student or staff group, and discipline/field.
University libraries were provided with a link to the online questionnaire which they then could publish on their own website and on the website of the university. Libraries informed their users about the survey each in their own way.