Library:
Interviewer:
Contact:
Date and Time of Interview:
I. USERS (POPULATIONS SERVED)
What is the primary constituency of the library?
What categories of users use this library and in what percentage?
II. ACCESS (Collection)
Description of Collections and Ways to Measure Collections
Monographs: Count in terms of number of
volumes or number of titles, whichever is
convenient.
Periodicals: Count by number of volumes or
number of titles, whichever is convenient.
Microforms: Count number of titles, number of
items or number of linear meters, whichever is
convenient
Special collections: Count number of items,
number of titles or number of linear meters,
whichever is convenient.
Documents: Count should be in number of
volumes, number of items, or number of linear
meters, whichever is convenient.
Media. Count number of titles, number of
items, or number of linear meters, whichever is
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convenient.
Electronic database subscriptions and leasing
agreements: This should include those
databases that are not owned by the library but
are accessed through subscriptions or leases.
The count should include CD-ROM titles,
remote electronic databases, computer files.
Count number of workstations dedicated to the
database or service or number of simultaneous
users for remote access.
Electronic database owned by the library: This
should include all databases that have been
purchased by the library. Count number of
dedicated workstations or if locally mounted,
count number of simultaneous users if limited.
Other: Use an appropriate count depending on
the type of materials.
Please specify:
Science and Technology Specific Questions
How is the serials crisis affecting this library?
How important is remote access to databases?
From home, elsewhere on site, library only?
What system is used to organize the materials?
III. USER SERVICES
Create a list of services offered. The following are examples:
Ready reference use
Extended research
Database access [Intermediated searching]
End-user search service
Current awareness service
Table of contents service
Inter-library borrow
Document delivery (articles, individual
documents)
Material purchase (Books, subscriptions, etc.
Purchased for the patron or specific division
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not for library)
Consult and instruct
End-user training services
Other services
What other special activities does the library run?
Exhibits.
Publishing.
Preservation & conservation.
Others
IV. STAFF
TOTAL NUMBER OF STAFF
Professional
Non-professional
Types of degrees: MLS, other graduate degree,
two degrees
Contract Services?
V. PHYSICAL FACILITIES
Obtain floor plan if possible.
Size of library in square feet
Number of staff offices
Number of reader spaces
Number of photocopiers for public use
Number of microform readers/printers
Number of library computer workstations for
public use
Number of video cassette recorders for public
use
Other equipment
Assess overall adequacy of the facilities
Compare remote usage to in-house usage
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VI. MANAGEMENT FUNCTIONS
What is the mission of the organization (or
audience served)?
Does the library have a separate mission
statement? If so, what is it?
How is the library/information center
positioned in the organization? [Separate
division, department within a division, subunit, etc.]?
Is there another library in this organization?
(for marketing, etc?)
To whom does the librarian report?
Is the librarian a member of any organizational
committees?
Does the librarian attend staff meetings? If so,
which ones and how often?
Evaluations
What evaluations of services and collections does the library do or has the library done?
Statistics, surveys, etc.
Marketing
How are library collections and services marketed?
Budget
Does the library resource center develop its
own budget? If not, who is responsible for the
budget?
Brief description of the budget process?
What percent (approximately) is the
library/information center budget of the total
organizational budget?
Does the library budget include salaries?
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Does the organization allocate any or all
library/information center costs to other
divisions or programs? Please explain. If the
costs are allocated, how is this accomplished?
[On a project basis or on a prorated basis (e.g.
calculated on total labor hours worked)]
Does the library track the cost of providing
specific services on a regular basis?
Does the library/information center charge for
any of its services?
If so, does it charge all users? Internal
users
For what services does it charge? How
much is charged for the service(s)?
Who determines the price charged?
How is the price determined? Actual
cost, actual cost plus some profit, market cost
(what competitors charge), other?
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