ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Assessing student dissatisfaction: No quality without accessibility

A formal evaluation study of our children’s literature collection revealed that students’ perceived dissatisfaction with the quality and extent of the collection was primarily due to problems with access.

The small-scale study consisted of three parts: Quality was determined by comparing a sample of titles against several review journals. Extent or breadth of the collection was measured by comparing our titles against several “best” lists. Access was evaluated by means of a user survey in questionnaire format, as well as a close examination of the classification system used for this collection and searching of problem titles in the online catalog. The survey also examined the users’ perception of the quality and extent of our collection.

Whereas quality and extent adequately measured up to the standards we had established at the outset of the study, we found that problems with access were the major cause for students’ dissatisfaction: e.g., proximity of the collection to the computer lab; inconsistent cataloging and classification practices; inadequate subject headings; the lack of cross-references (authority control) in the online catalog; but also students’ inept use of the online catalog (typos, incorrect search strategies, unfamiliarity with limiting keyword searches, etc.).

A pathfinder to the collection with helpful hints how to search children’s books in the online catalog; reclassification of some titles; addition of subject headings with the appropriate subdivision “juvenile literature” or “juvenile fiction”; and providing better physical access were among the immediate steps we took to making access to the collection a more satisfying experience for our students.—Susanne Nevin, Gustavus Adolphus College ■