How to Conduct a Survey: Part 1 3/9/20

One of the goals that I set with Dr. Louderback was to conduct patron survey and perhaps publish the results by the end of my internship. Conducting surveys at academic institutions are not simply a matter of drafting and distributing a questionnaire, however. You have to fill out an application with an Institutional Review Board (IRB) to get permission to conduct any survey of people. The IRB is concerned with protecting the rights and privacy of human subjects in any research done under the auspices of the university.

I struggled to find a survey topic. As a graduate assistant at Schusterman Library, I helped gather data on research regarding space usage, and felt comfortable in that area. But I soon found out that NSU Broken Arrow had recently conducted their own physical space usage survey, so I didn't think doing another one would be very helpful to them. I consider myself very fortunate for turning away from on-site surveys now that Covid-19 has most libraries operating in a virtual world.

The night before my proposal was due (around March 9th), I remembered my frustration with the NSU libraries website. I also knew from a prior conversation with one of the librarians that the website was under review and would soon be redesigned. With this in mind, I proposed a simple website user survey. Dr. Louderback though it was a great idea and suggested that I meet with two librarians who were on the committee for reviewing the website. After receiving a positive response from them, they suggested that I add a question about what main features patrons wanted to see on the homepage. 

Well then... 3/31/20

As I write this blog post in my home office, one of my open browser windows is the live chat feature at the Schusterman library (where I work as a Graduate Assistant). There haven't been many questions coming in during these last two weeks, but we are ready to answer when they do!  Yes, I am working a shift from the comfort of my own home. The Covid-19 pandemic has now shut down all non-essential businesses and operations in the State of Oklahoma.

Are libraries "non-essential" institutions? If some are essential, what makes them essential? How will I prepare my daughter for the third grade, now that school is finished two months before the end of the year? What will happen to the economy? Why was the Unites States so slow to respond to this pandemic compared to other nations? Will I be able to find a job when I graduate at the end of this year? These are all questions that have been bobbing up and down in my consciousness for the last several days - all while I spend relatively a peaceful time at home with my family.

One burning question - if I was going to be able to complete my Spring internship - was thankfully answered this week. I received approval from the NSU IRB review board regarding my IRB application.  Over the next few weeks, students faculty and staff will receive a survey regarding their usage of the NSU libraries website. I will then look at the data and Dr. Louderback will help me publish the results, which will hopefully aid NSU librarians. Since it is all online, I should be able to complete this project without returning to the NSU campus.

The view from my virtual library.