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LibQUAL+® Survey FAQ

LibQUAL logoFrequently Asked Questions

What is the LibQUAL+® survey?

The LibQUAL+ survey is a standardized survey for measuring library users' perceptions of service quality. It is designed and administered by the Association of Research Libraries to identify gaps between desired, perceived, and minimum expectations of service.

What does LibQUAL+® stand for?

Library Service Quality Survey.

Who will receive the survey?

All UW faculty members, graduate students, and a sample of undergraduate students and staff will receive an email invitation from the Library to participate.

How long does the survey take?

The survey takes approximately 6 minutes to complete.

Do I have to participate?

No. Participation is completely voluntary.

Why should I participate?

So we can better meet your needs! Your participation will help us evaluate how well our services meet your needs. We will use your feedback to inform our future services decisions.

By completing the survey, you will also have the option to enter to win one of five $100 gift cards for Retail Services.

How long will the survey run?

The survey is open from Monday, March 1 to Wednesday, March 31.

What happens if I don't finish completing the survey?

Your responses from the log-on period will not transmitted unless you submit the web form.

Has the Library participated in LibQUAL+® survey before?

Yes. The Library also participated in this survey in 2007 and 2001.

Are other libraries participating in this survey?

Yes. All member libraries of the Canadian Association of Research Libraries are participating in the 2010 LibQUAL+® survey.

What will be done with the survey data?

The survey data will be stored on a secure server at the Association of Research Libraries (ARL) and will only be accessible to the Association's statisticians and research team.

At a later date, raw data will be made available to the researchers at the University of Waterloo Library and will be kept on a secure Library server for further analysis. The survey responses will then be compiled and reported as aggregate scores.

How can I find out the survey results?

We will post the analyzed results on the Library's website after they are processed. This may not occur until the fall.

Did the Library consult the Office of Research Ethics about this survey?

Yes. The survey has received Quality Assurance clearing from Waterloo’s Office of Research Ethics.

The LibQUAL+® survey is entirely confidential. No personal identification information will be transmitted with the survey responses.

Which web browsers support this survey?

The LibQUAL+® survey should work with most browsers. If the survey link doesn't work, try copying the URL and pasting it into a web browser.

Is the survey compatible with text-to-speech web browsers?

It is compatible with the JAWS screen reader software.

Why are we collecting sex and age information?

The survey is designed by ARL with demographic fields included. This information is only used to review the representativeness of survey respondents against the campus community. It provides us with profiles that mimic the campus' population. This will allow us to make some assumptions from the results to inform our decision making.

Can I skip a question?

Yes. If you wish to skip a question, select the “NA” box in the right-hand column (where possible). Only fully completed surveys will be used by ARL for analysis purposes.

Who can I contact to learn more?

For more information on , contact:

Annie Bélanger
Head, Information Services and Resources
Dana Porter Library
Ext. 32882