Students Survey Library Services

by Michael Leinz

Des Moines, Iowa (March 19, 1997)-- Drake University recently has been toying with a number of ideas for renovations in upcoming years. Changes to Hubbell Dining Services, the Olmsted Center and Hubbell Field have all been mentioned by Drake administration. Caught in the winds of change, administrators at Cowles Library are now planing for their own renovations.

During the week of March 9 through March 16, students who went to the library were asked to complete a survey on their opinions of the library resources. Rodney Henshaw, director at Cowles Library, said, "We haven't completed studying the surveys. We had about 1,000 surveys turned in; that's 63 percent of the surveys handed out. It's good that so many students contributed their ideas."

Mary Beveridge, head of public services at Cowles Library and originator of the survey, said the survey had two purposes. First, the survey was intended to give the library administration an understanding of student needs. "We want to know how we can help the students," Beveridge said. Henshaw agreed. "It's important for us to get feedback from the library users," he said.

Second, the survey was used as part of Drake's participation in a national collegiate self-evaluation program. "Every 10 years, Drake has to turn in an evaluation of its facilities, including the library," Henshaw said.

As for the future of Cowles Library, many ideas have been on the drawing board. "We have a lot of changes in mind. The surveys are meant to give us ideas that we might have overlooked," Beveridge said. "We are hoping to find things we haven't already identified."

Some of the ideas already being discussed include large electronic databases, more books, more scientific journals, a new reference desk, and improved study areas. "The biggest change in the next year is going to be an expansion of information in electronic form. We will have larger databases available to Drake students," Henshaw said.

Unfortunately, the library administration doesn't have much time to review the surveys, Beveridge said. The results are being entered into a computer so that the administration can get a basic overview of student responses.

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