Authors

• National Library of Finland. National Library Network Services

Keywords

educational libraries, information retrieval, information/library resources, library facilities, library services

Abstract

The survey investigated user views on the libraries of universities of applied sciences (polytechnic 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, which library services and electronic resources they used, how often they contacted the library, and whether they followed the library on social media. Views were probed on the library as a service environment, library collections and resources, and advice 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, discipline/field, and, for students, year of study.