CARL ABRC Survey of Social Media 2010 English Version
1. Using Social Media in Canadian Academic
Libraries: CARL/ABRC Survey, 2010
OVERVIEW OF SURVEY
. This is a survey of academic librarians working in Canada's research libraries (see CARL / ABRC libraries) and how they use social
media. Your input will help Canada's major research libraries develop an understanding of what social media appears to offer
academic librarians, and the challenges and issues of using it.
. The French version of the survey is available.
. The survey consists of two parts: 1) eleven questions about social media and 2) eight about demographics. All responses are
confidential. (See how we protect your privacy)
. The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete (and, a few minutes for demographics). Your participation is voluntary and you can
leave the survey at any time. Upon completion, you are eligible to enter a draw for one of four $50 gift certificates from Chapters.
Thank you for your time and effort in completing our survey. If you have questions, contact: Dean Giustini, UBC Biomedical Branch
Librarian
SOCIAL MEDIA IN THIS SURVEY IS DEFINED AS:
For the purposes of this survey, social media is defined as "...the use of digital media (including internet and mobile) for collaborating
with others to create user generated content and form self organizing communities.
Typical elements of social media include the ability to:
1) create a personal profile
2) “friend” or follow other members
3) create content in the form of text, photos, audio, or video and
4) share, tag, rate, comment or vote on content.
Blogs, forums, wikis, social networking sites, microblogging sites, social bookmarking sites, social voting sites, social review sites and
virtual worlds are all examples of [social media]. So are social sites built around photos, audio, videos, presentations, music, and
games ..."
TO TAKE THE SURVEY, CLICK 'NEXT PAGE' BELOW
Part I - Academic Librarians' Use of Social Media (11 questions)
Read each question and any instructions, then choose the best answer.
1a) Which of the following computer devices do you regularly use to access the web in your work as an academic librarian? [check all
that apply]
If you selected other, please specify:
1b) On an average library workday in the past month, how many hours did you spend each day doing work on computers and mobile
devices?
[e.g., browsing, doing e-mail, searching, reading, writing]
Android (Google)
Blackberry
Desktop computer
iPad
iPhone
iTouch
Laptop
Netbook
PDA
Smartphone (other than Blackberry or iPhone)
Other (please specify)
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2. 2) Where would you put yourself in terms of your social media knowledge on the following list from 'no knowledge' through to 'a lot
of knowledge'?
Additional comments:
This survey follows the UBC Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human SubjectsQuestion 3 below lists seven (7) social media
categories. Starting at the left at (a) Blogs down to (g) Wikis, indicate the frequency with which you use each tool type in your work
by selecting one response from "Never" to "Every Day". Then, at right, assess its usefulness in your work from "Don't Know" to "Very
Useful".
3) How frequently do you use the following social media tools in your work as an academic librarian?
[Then, at right: What is your perception of each tool's usefulness in your work for communicating, networking, reading, sharing, writing, meeting
people and so on]
3.1) Among the specific tools you currently use above (e.g., Meebo, Twitter, YouTube), describe briefly below how you use them in
your work. (Or, proceed to next question)
Below is the second set of seven (7 ) categories for Question 3 starting at (h) Collaborative writing through (n) Web file-sharing
services. As you did in the first part of Q3, indicate the frequency with which you use each tool type in your work from "Never" to
"Every Day". Then, at right, assess its usefulness in your work from "Don't Know" to "Very Useful".
3) ...cont'd...
How frequently do you use the following social media in your work as an academic librarian?
[Then, at right: What is your perception of each tool's usefulness in your work for communicating, networking, reading, sharing, writing, meeting
people and so on]
nmlkj Less than 1 hour per day nmlkj 1 to 2 hours nmlkj 3 to 5 hours nmlkj 6 to 9 hours nmlkj More than 10 hours per day
No Knowledge (of social media)
Minimal Knowledge [e.g., starting to learn how to use social media, how to access & read comments]
Working Knowledge [e.g., know how to use a few tools; have some experience interacting with websites by leaving comments]
More-than-Working Knowledge [e.g., know major trends & tools; how to contribute to blogs and/or wikis]
A Lot of Knowledge [e.g, advanced knowledge, awareness of cutting-edge advances & major trends]
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Frequency of use Perceived usefulness
Never
Less Than
Once A
Month
At Least
Once A
Month
At Least
Once A
Week
Every
Day
Don't
Know
Not
Useful
Somewhat
Useful
Useful
Very
Useful
a) Blogs (reading or
writing posts) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) Instant messaging
(Meebo, GoogleTalk) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
c) Microblogging
(e.g., Twitter,
Yammer)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) RSS Aggregators
(e.g., Bloglines,
iGoogle)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) Social networking
(e.g., Facebook,
LinkedIn)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
f) Videosharing (e.g.,
YouTube, Vimeo) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
g) Wikis (e.g.,
PBWorks, Wikipedia) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Additional comments
Frequency of use Perceived usefulness
3. 3.2) Among the specific tools you currently use above (e.g., Delicious, Flickr, SlideShare), describe briefly below how you use them in
your work. (Or, proceed to next question)
... Never used these tools? Click on "Never" on left side & proceed to next question (OR comment about tools'
"usefulness")
This survey follows the UBC Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects
Question 4 below lists six marketing, promotional and outreach activities performed regularly by Canadian academic libraries. Based
on your experience with social media, your reading or assessment, indicate the extent to which you feel negatively or positively
inclined towards its use to accomplish the activities listed.
4) How important do you think it is for your library [now or in the future] to use social media for the following activities? [e.g., to have
'digital presence' and use interactive tools]
Which tools are used / might be used?
Question 5 below lists six benefits said to result from using social media. See the social media glossary if you need to define any
terms and then indicate, at right, whether you are likely to use social media to take advantage of the six benefits listed from a) cloud
computing down to f) the network effect.
Never
Less Than
Once A
Month
At Least
Once A
Month
At Least
Once A
Week
Every
Day
Don't
Know
Not
Useful
Somewhat
Useful
Useful
Very
Useful
h) Collaborative
writing (e.g.,
GoogleDocs, wikis)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
i) Photo-sharing (e.g.,
Flickr, Picasa) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
j) Powerpoint-
sharing (e.g.,
SlideShare, Prezi)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
k) Social bookmarks
(e.g., Delicious,
Connotea)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
l) Social cataloguing
(e.g., LibraryThing) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
m) Virtual worlds
(e.g., Second Life,
other)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
n) Web file-sharing
services (e.g,
Dropbox, LiveMesh)
nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Additional comments
Not Important Low Importance Neutral Important Very Important
a) Announcing upcoming library events nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) Communicating directly with students and faculty nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
c) Fundraising for library programs & services nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) Helping to reach strategic goals or objectives for your library nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) Marketing your library's services and programs nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
f) Promoting workshops offered by your library nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
4. 5) How likely are you to want to adopt social media (now or in the future) in order to take advantage of the following benefits in your
work?
Comments:
Part I - Academic Librarians' Use of Social Media (6th question of 11)
You are beyond the half-way point in the survey.
Question 6 below lists five statements about the skills librarians might need to acquire in order to use social media effectively. After
reading each statement at left, place your response along the scale at right from not a priority to high priority.
6) Where would you put the following statements from 'not a priority' to a 'very high priority' in terms of how academic librarians in
general should utilize social media?
Comments:
Question 7 below lists six statements about your attitude towards using social media. After reading each statement on the left, place
your response at right along the scale from inaccurate ... to accurate.
7) How accurate are the following statements in reflecting your views of using social media at work?
Not At All
Likely
Somewhat
Likely
50 / 50
Chance
Quite
Likely
Extremely
Likely
a) "Cloud computing" (using software "in the cloud" not on
your desktop) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
b) Creating new knowledge objects (e.g., video, audio, online
tutorials) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
c) Downloading free, open source software (as opposed to
buying software) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
d) Peer-to-peer (P2P) sharing of information, anytime gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
e) Learning new information skills (e.g., media literacy) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
f) The "Network Effect" (networking with other librarians,
building contacts) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
Not A
Priority
Low
Priority
Moderate
Priority
High
Priority
Very High
Priority
a) Librarians should have some basic knowledge of the major
social media tools nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) Librarians should know where social media fits into scholarly
communication nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
c) Librarians should be aware of the pros and cons of using
social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) Each academic library should appoint one librarian to
manage all social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) Librarians should be able to advise faculty about copyright
issues in social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Inaccurate
Somewhat
Inaccurate
Neutral
Somewhat
Accurate
Accurate
a) My colleagues are a major influence in my decision to use
social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) My experience is that social media is simple to use nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
5. Comments:
This survey follows the UBC Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects
Part I - Academic Librarians' Use of Social Media (8th question of 11)
Question 8 below lists a number of statements about the adoption of social media in your library. After reading each statement on
the left, place your response at right along the scale from inaccurate ... to accurate.
8) How accurate are the following statements in reflecting your library's acceptance (or non-acceptance) of social media?
Comments:
In question 9 below, a number of statements are made about how you might decide to use social media . After reading each
statement on the left, place your response at right along the scale from inaccurate ... to accurate.
9) How accurate are the following statements in reflecting your intention to use (or not use) social media in the future?
c) Most social media is a distraction to me nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) I have resisted pressure to use social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) My supervisor encourages me to use social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
f) I am too busy to learn how to use social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Inaccurate
Somewhat
Inaccurate
Neutral
Somewhat
Accurate
Accurate
a) In general, my library supports the use of social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) My colleagues see more positives in using social media than
negatives nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
c) Social media is compatible with other technologies we use in
my library nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) We are more concerned about protecting our privacy than
using social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) Social media is an improvement over older tools (e.g., listservs,
e-mail) nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
f) Our approach to social media is to 'proceed with caution' nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Inaccurate
Somewhat
Inaccurate
Neutral
Somewhat
Accurate
Accurate
a) I want to deepen my knowledge of social media in the future nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
b) I'll wait to use social media until it's more accepted by
faculty nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
c) I'm worried about the many risks associated with using
social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
d) I find it difficult to evaluate social media for use in my work nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
e) My use of social media will depend on my users' demands
for it nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
6. Comments:
This survey follows the UBC Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects
10) To use social media more effectively in the future, how much of a priority do you think the following library supports are from
not a priority to a very high priority?
11a) What are your overall impressions of using social media in academic libraries?
11b) Fill in the blank
"All things considered, the use of social media is ________________ to the mission of academic libraries in the 21st century."
Comments:
This is the end of the social media survey questions
This survey follows the UBC Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects
Part II - Demographics
1) Which Canadian research library do you work in? [select from list below]
2) What division, department, subject or liaison area do you work in for a majority of your work week? [select more than one, if
needed]
f) I am ready to try new things in my use of social media nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj nmlkj
Not A
Priority
Low
Priority
Moderate
Priority
High
Priority
Very High
Priority
a) Clearly-written library policies or guidance gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
b) In-house library workshops and courses for staff gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
c) Professional development opportunities (e.g., conferences,
seminars) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
d) Strategic planning (e.g., short or long-term library
strategies?) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
e) Systems infrastructure (e.g., adequate speed, support,
flexibility) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
f) Technical services (e.g., book rating tools; tagging
catalogue items) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
g) Web development (e.g., linking to social media on library
websites) gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc gfedc
nmlkj Harmful nmlkj Somewhat Harmful nmlkj Neither Harmful Nor Beneficial nmlkj Somewhat Beneficial nmlkj Beneficial
Administration
Agriculture & veterinarian medicine
Archives, Digital Libraries, Repositories, Special Collections
Arts (i.e., Architecture, Fine Arts, History, Music)
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7. Additional comments:
3) How many total years of work experience do you have as a librarian?
4) What position title describes the majority of your work?
If you selected other, please specify:
5) What is the highest library degree you have earned?
Thank you for your time and effort in completing this survey. Your input will help Canada's major research libraries develop a better
understanding of using social media to support the mission of academic libraries.
Part II - Demographics
6) What is the highest non-library degree you have earned?
7) How old are you?
8) What is your gender?
If you selected other, please specify:
This survey is now over (follow instructions below to submit your responses)
Your responses to this survey will be kept separate from your e-mail address. If you wish to be contacted for phase II of our survey
[or want your name entered for one of the $50 gift certificates], provide your e-mail address below. After the draw, all e-mail
addresses will be deleted. Alternately, you can send your contact information to dean.giustini@ubc.ca. This survey follows the UBC
Ethical Guidelines for Research on Human Subjects
Please include your e-mail address below
Business
Circulation & interlibrary lending (e.g., document delivery)
Education
General reference
Health sciences
Humanities &/or social sciences
Law
Life sciences (i.e., Biology, Botany)
Sciences (i.e., Chemistry, Engineering, Physics)
Systems department
Technical services (i.e., Acquisitions, Cataloguing, Collections)
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
gfedc
nmlkj Less than 2 years nmlkj 2 – 5 years nmlkj 6 - 10 years nmlkj 11 - 19 years nmlkj 20 - 30 years nmlkj More than 30 years
Administrative librarian
Archivist
Cataloguer
Collections librarian
Department head librarian
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
Digital resources librarian
Division head librarian
Emerging technologies librarian
Instructional librarian
Managing librarian
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
Reference librarian
Subject liaison librarian
Systems librarian
Technical services librarian
Other (please specify)
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj
nmlkj BLS nmlkj MLS / MLIS / MiST / MI nmlkj M.S.I. or M.B.S.I. (Francophone) nmlkj PhD / Doctorate
nmlkj Undergraduate nmlkj Master's nmlkj Doctorate
nmlkj 29 or under nmlkj 30 - 39 nmlkj 40 - 49 nmlkj 50 - 59 nmlkj 60 or over
Female
Male
Other (please specify)
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nmlkj
nmlkj
8. The results of this survey will be published in November 2010 on the Search Principle blog <http://blogs.ubc.ca/dean>.
Thank you for your participation,
Dean Giustini, MLS, MEd
Amy Ashmore, MLIS Candidate
This survey was partly funded by a Research in Librarianship Grant awarded by the Canadian Association of Research Libraries / Association des
bibliotheques de recherche (CARL / ABRC)
(1 of 1)
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