Form Awareness and Util Awareness and Util Awareness and Utility Survey

Consent Form

Survey Instrument

SECTION 1. Awareness

SECTION 2A. PLS Data Files and Documentation (Current Users)

SECTION 2B. PLS Data Files and Documentation (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 3A. Library Search and Compare Data Tool (Current Users)

SECTION 4A. PLS Supplementary Tables (Current Users)

SECTION 4B. PLS Supplementary Tables (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 5A. PLS Annual Reports and Topical Briefs (Current Users)

SECTION 5B. PLS Annual Reports and Topical Briefs (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 6A. PLS Summary Reports and State Profiles (Current Users)

SECTION 6B. PLS Summary Reports and State Profiles (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 7A. SLAA Survey Public Use Data Files (Current Users)

SECTION 7B. SLAA Survey Public Use Data Files (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 8A. SLAA Survey Annual Reports (Current Users)

SECTION 8B. SLAA Annual Reports (Current Non-Users)

SECTION 9. Interest Among People Who Are Not Aware

SECTION 10. Demographics

How did you hear about this survey?
1. Professional organization (e.g., American Library Association)
2. IMLS newsletter or email
3. Colleague
4. Facebook
5. Twitter
6. LinkedIn
7. Other: [specify]

How often do you use data, including interactive tools and data reports, in your job?
1. Never [terminate]
2. Rarely
3. Sometimes
4. Often
5. Always

Which of the following do you use as part of your job? [check all that apply]
1. Downloadable data files
2. Self-querying tools and other interactive tools/dashboards
3. Research reports
4. Summary tables
5. Other: [specify]

I am currently using or am interested in using data, information, or reports about...

[check all that apply]

Agriculture
Public health
Libraries [only continue if they select as one of selections]
Education
Energy
Financial services
Parks and recreation
Other: [specify]

Which of the following best describes your area of work or study?
1. Library Administration, Services, Development, or Research
2. Social Science Research
3. Data Science
4. Journalism or Media
5. Other: [specify]

[Programmer note: Use Q5 to meet quotas: Library Administration, Services, Development, or Research => “Library” audience (n=50); Social Science Research OR Data Science => “Research” audience (n=30); Journalism or Media => “Journalist” audience (n=20)

What is your occupation or job title?
1. Research Associate or Analyst
2. Data Analyst or Scientist
3. State Data Coordinator
4. Professor or Student in Library Sciences
5. Social Science Researcher
6. Journalist
7. Library Administrator or Practitioner
8. Other: [specify]

[Consent Screen 1]

Purpose: We are inviting you to participate in a research study. The research involves a survey questionnaire about your daily work and several different data products.

Sponsorship: RTI International, an independent nonprofit research organization, is conducting this project on behalf of the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). RTI is working with IMLS to conduct this survey but is not affiliated with IMLS in any way. The purpose of the study is to learn more about different data products offered on the IMLS website.

Procedures: If you agree to participate, you will be asked to answer some survey questions about your day-to-day work and your familiarity with IMLS data products.

Completing the survey will take approximately 15 minutes.

Benefits: There are no direct benefits to you for participating in this study. However, you will be helping with an important research project.

Payment for Participation: You will be offered a $15 Amazon digital gift card for completing this survey.

Confidentiality: The privacy and confidentiality of your information is of the highest importance, and we are committed to maintaining a secure environment in which you can participate. All information you share in this study will be kept confidential to the extent provided by law. The study team will not disclose your name or any of your responses. The information you share with us will be combined into a summary report, and details of individual surveys will not be linked to a specific participant. You will not be contacted again about this research study in the future. We will collect your email address in order to send your gift card. Any potentially identifying information will be deleted at the end of the research project. Individuals’ responses to this survey will not be used to make statements about the general population (approved under OMB No: 3137-0081).

Potential Risks: There is a potential risk of loss of confidentiality given our collection of your email address to process your gift card. However, the survey is secured within our enhanced security network, and only approved research staff will be able to access your responses.

Your Rights: Your participation in this study is completely voluntary, and you have the right to stop at any time or to refuse to answer any question. You can refuse to answer any question. If you decide to participate and later change your mind, you will not be contacted again or asked for further information.

Questions: If you have questions about the project, you can email the Project Director, Veronica Thomas, at [email protected] or Matthew Birnbaum of IMLS at [email protected]. If you have questions about your rights as a participant, you can call RTI’s Office of Research Protection at 1-866-214-2043 (toll-free number).

[Consent Screen 2]

If you have read the previous screen and agree to participate, please click the Yes button. If not, click the No button.

□ Yes, I agree to participate.

□ No, I do not agree to participate. [End survey]

*Designates questions that are required in order to proceed and complete the study.

Q1. How familiar are you with the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS)?*

Not at all familiar

Very familiar

[Programmer note: if Q1=1 (Not at all familiar), skip to Section 9]

[Programmer note: List this sentence above Q2: The “Data Catalog” is a tab on the IMLS website that hosts public use data files, annual reports, a tool called Library Search and Compare, state reports, and special topic briefs.]

Q2. Have you ever accessed the “Data Catalog” tab on the Institute of Museum and Library Services website?*

1 Yes

2 No

3 Don’t know

[Programmer note: if Q2=2 (No), skip to Section 9]

[Programmer note: ask Q3 if Q2 = 1 (Yes) or 3 (Don’t know)]

Q3. Please take a look at the following data products offered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services on their website. Which of the following data products have you used?*

[randomize order]	Currently Use	Have used in the past, but not currently	Have never used	Don’t Know
Data product
Q3_1 National-level Public Libraries Survey (PLS) Public Use Data Files and Documentation	1	2	3	98
Q3_2 Library Search and Compare Tool	1	2	3	98
Q3_3 Public Libraries Survey (PLS) Supplementary Tables	1	2	3	98
Q3_4 Public Libraries Survey (PLS) Annual Reports (through FY17)	1	2	3	98
Q3_5 Public Libraries Survey (PLS) Topical Briefs (e.g., Research Brief on Small and Rural Libraries)	1	2	3	98
Q3_6 Summary Products, such as State Profile Pages	1	2	3	98
Q3_7 State Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) Survey Public Use Data File and Documentation	1	2	3	98
Q3_8 State Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) Survey Annual Reports	1	2	3	98

NOTE: To minimize burden on respondents and limit the time commitment to 15 minutes, we will only ask follow-up questions about up to three products that they currently use (as shown in the Q3 table, above). If a respondent responds that they currently use more than 3 products, we will ask them questions about 3 products, based on the order in which they are ranked in priority by IMLS. We anticipate that the number of respondents who use more than 3 products will be extremely small (less than 10 people).

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_1 = 1 (currently use)

This programming applies to every question in section 2A unless otherwise specified.]

Q4. How frequently do you use the PLS public use data files?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once per month

Q5. What are the primary reasons you use the PLS public use data files? [check all that apply]

1 To conduct secondary data analysis with multiple data sets

2 To conduct analyses to assess library trends over time

3 To create my own reports or dashboards

4 To answer questions from colleagues and/or patrons

5 Other, please specify

Q6. The PLS public use data files can be downloaded as CSV, SPSS, or SAS files. Do these download options meet your needs?

1 Yes

2 No

[Programmer note: ask Q7 if Q6 = 2 (No)]

Q7. What other download option would be most useful to you?

Open-ended field

Q8. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the PLS public use data files.

	1 Strongly Disagree	2 Disagree	3 Neither Agree nor Disagree	4 Agree	5 Strongly Agree
Q8_1. The PLS public use data files meet my needs overall.
Q8_2. The PLS public use data files are released in a timely manner.
Q8_3. A provisional release of PLS data in Library Search & Compare would be helpful, even if the data could not be exported.
Q8_4. It is important for me to have PLS data for more than a single state/territory.
Q8_5. The content (e.g., variable names, variable labels, response values) of the PLS data files is clear.
Q8_6. I am interested in comparing libraries across states.

Q9a. In my opinion, the PLS public use data files are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q9a_1 Unimportant	r	r	r	r	r	r	Important
Q9a_2 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q9a_3 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Complete
Q9a_4 Hard to use	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to use

Q9b. In my opinion, the Documentation and User’s Guide that accompany the PLS public use data files are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q9b_1 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Comprehensive
Q9b_2 Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q9b_3 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q9b_4 Hard to understand	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to understand

Q10. What other supporting materials would be helpful to accompany the PLS public use data files?

Open-ended field

Q11. What are some of the challenges you experience with the PLS data files?

Open-ended field

Q12. How likely are you to recommend the PLS data files to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q13. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the PLS data files? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the data set

6 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_1 = 2 (do not currently use) or 3 (have never used)

This programming applies to every question in section 2B unless otherwise specified.]

Q14. How likely are you to use the national-level Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data files in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q15 and Q16 if Q3_1 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q15. What are the reasons you do not currently use the national-level Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data files? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I currently use the PLS data that my state makes available on their website.

4 The data are too outdated for my current needs.

5 Other, please specify

Q16. What improvements or additions would make you use the PLS data files again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q17 if Q3_1 = 3 (have never used)]

Q17. What are the reasons you have never used the national-level Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data files? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I don’t need to make comparisons of my library to those outside my state.

3 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

4 I currently use the PLS data that my state makes available on their website.

5 I am only interested in the most current data, which are not available in these files.

6 I don’t know where to find the national-level PLS data files.

7 I don’t know how to use the national-level PLS data files.

8 I don’t have confidence in my ability to run statistical analyses of the data.

9 I don’t have access to statistical software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, Stata, R).

10 I was not aware that IMLS offered PLS public use data files.

11 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_2 = 1 (currently use)

This programming applies to every question in section 3A unless otherwise specified.]

Q18. How frequently do you use the Library Search & Compare tool?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once per month

Q19. What are the primary reasons you use the Library Search & Compare tool? [check all that apply]

1 Compare my public library to other similar libraries

2 Examine relationships between data variables across libraries

3 Demonstrate my library’s performance to local and state library funding decision makers

4 Educate board members about how our library compares to others

5 Answer a specific research question for me or a colleague

6 Other, please specify

Q20. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the Library Search & Compare tool.

	1 Strongly Disagree	2 Disagree	3 Neither Agree nor Disagree	4 Agree	5 Strongly Agree
Q20_1. The Library Search & Compare tool meets my needs overall.
Q20_2. The Library Search & Compare tool is updated in a timely manner.
Q20_3. The Library Search & Compare tool needs a User’s Guide.

Q21. In my opinion, the Library Search & Compare tool is…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q21_1. Unimportant	r	r	r	r	r	r	Important
Q21_2. Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q21_3. Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q21_4. Complex	r	r	r	r	r	r	Straightforward
Q21_5. Hard to use	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to use

Q22. What are some of the challenges you experience with the Library Search & Compare tool?

1 The tool is not intuitive.

2 There are multiple ways to get the same data.

3 It is difficult to compile state data across multiple years.

4 It is difficult to export the precise data that I want.

5 It is challenging to know where to go in the tool for side-by-side snapshots.

6 The data is not up to date.

7 It does not have the level of detail I need in the data.

8 Other, please specify

Q23. How likely are you to recommend the Library Search & Compare tool to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q24. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the Library Search & Compare tool? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the tool

6 Other, please specify

SECTION 3B. Library Search and Compare Data Tool (Current Non-Users)

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_2 = 2 (do not currently use) or 3 (have never used)

This programming applies to every question in section 3B unless otherwise specified.]

Q25. How likely are you to use the Library Search & Compare tool in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q26 and Q27 if Q3_2 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q26. What are the reasons you do not currently use the Library Search & Compare tool? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I access the Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data I need directly from my state.

4 I am only interested in current data.

5 The Search & Compare Tool is too difficult to use.

6 Other, please specify

Q27. What improvements or additions would make you use the Library Search & Compare tool again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q28 if Q3_2 = 3 (have never used)]

Q28. What are the reasons you have never used the Library Search & Compare tool? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I don’t need to make comparisons of my library to those outside my state.

3 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

4 I access the Public Libraries Survey (PLS) data I need directly from my state.

5 I am only interested in the most current data, which are not available on this tool.

6 I don’t know where to find the Library Search & Compare tool.

7 I don’t know how to use the Library Search & Compare tool.

8 I was not aware that IMLS offered the Library Search & Compare tool.

9 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_3 = 1 (currently use) This programming applies to every question in section 4A unless otherwise specified.]

Q29. How frequently do you use the PLS Supplementary Tables?

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once per month

Q30. What are the primary reasons you use the PLS Supplementary Tables? [check all that apply]

1 I use the State Ranking Tables to compare libraries in my state with other states.

2 I use the State Ranking Tables to compare libraries in my state to rankings from previous years.

3 I consult specific metrics within the tables each year for my job or data products we produce.

4 I look up specific metrics on library services to children each year.

5 I look up specific metrics on library finances each year.

6 I look up specific metrics on collections each year.

7 Other, please specify

Q31. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the PLS Supplementary Tables.

	1 Strongly Disagree	2 Disagree	3 Neither Agree nor Disagree	4 Agree	5 Strongly Agree
Q31_1. The PLS Supplementary Tables meet my needs.
Q31_2. The PLS Supplementary Tables are updated in a timely manner.
Q31_3. The PLS Supplementary Tables provide important information
Q31_4. Other public library data products are more useful than the PLS Supplementary Tables.

Q32. In my opinion, the PLS Supplementary Tables are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q32_1 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Comprehensive
Q32_2 Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q32_3 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q32_4 Hard to understand	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to understand

Q33. How likely are you to recommend the PLS Supplementary Tables to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q34. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the PLS Supplementary Tables? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the product

6 Other, please specify

Q35. What additional tables or data products would you recommend?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_3 = 2 (not currently use) or 3 (have never used)]

Q36. How likely are you to use the PLS Supplementary Tables in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q41 and Q42 if Q3_3= 2 (do not currently use)]

Q37. What are the reasons you do not currently use the PLS Supplementary Tables? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I use the raw PLS data to meet my needs.

4 I am only interested in current data.

5 Other, please specify

Q38. What improvements or additions would make you use the PLS Supplementary Tables again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q43 if Q3_3 = 3 (have never used)]

Q39. What are the reasons you have never used the Supplementary Tables? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I use the raw PLS data to meet my needs.

4 I don’t know where to find the PLS Supplementary Tables.

5 I don’t know how to use the PLS Supplementary Tables.

6 I was not aware that IMLS offered PLS Supplementary Tables.

7 The data in these tables are too outdated for my needs by the time they are published.

8 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_4 and/or Q3_5 = 1 (currently use)

This programming applies to every question in section 5A unless otherwise specified.]

Q40. How frequently do you use the PLS Annual Reports and Topical Briefs, such as the Research Brief on Small and Rural Libraries?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once per month

Q41. What are the primary reasons you use the PLS reports and briefs? [check all that apply]

1 To assess library trends over the years (Annual Reports)

2 To understand how libraries are affected by timely or emergent issues and topics (Topical Briefs)

3 To see how the PLS data relates to other data sets not focused on libraries

4 To quickly answer a question I have about using PLS data without having to download the full data set

5 Other, please specify

Q42. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the PLS Annual Reports and Topical Briefs. Please select “Not Applicable” if you do not use the specific product referenced in the left column.

Q43. In my opinion, the PLS Annual Reports and Topical Briefs are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q43_1 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Comprehensive
Q43_2 Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q43_3 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q43_4 Hard to understand	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to understand

Q44. How likely are you to recommend these reports and briefs to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q45. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the PLS reports and briefs? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the reports and briefs

6 Other, please specify

Q46. What additional topical briefs would you recommend?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_4 and/or Q3_5 = 2 (not currently use) or 3 (have never used)]

Q47. How likely are you to use the PLS annual reports or topical briefs in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q52 and Q53 if Q3_4 and/or Q3_5 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q48. What are the reasons you do not currently use the PLS annual reports or topical briefs? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 The products or briefs are not relevant to me.

4 The reports are too outdated for my needs by the time they are published.

5 Other, please specify

Q49. What improvements or additions would make you use these products again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q54 if Q3_4 and/or Q3_5 = 3 (have never used)]

Q50. What are the reasons you have never used the PLS annual reports, topical briefs, or summary products? [check all that apply]

1 My job does not currently require me to use library data.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I don’t know where to find these reports and briefs.

4 I don’t know how to use these reports and briefs.

5 I was not aware that IMLS offered these reports and briefs.

6 I am only interested in the most current data, which are not included in these reports.

7 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: Ask Q55-Q57 for all responses to Q3_4 and Q3_5]

Q51. How interested are you in reports that summarize trends for key PLS indicators and sub-indicators?

Not at all interested

Extremely interested

Q52. How interested are you in reports that focus on special topics, such as electronic library resources?

Not at all interested

Extremely interested

Q53. What special topics would be of interest to you?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_6 = 1 (currently use) This programming applies to every question in section 5A unless otherwise specified.]

Q54. How frequently do you use the PLS Summary Products, such as the State Profile pages?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once per month

Q55. What are the primary reasons you use the PLS Summary Reports? [check all that apply]

1 To see how libraries in my state compare to others states

2 To answer a question I have about using PLS data without having to download the full data set

3 To quickly assess state performance over multiple years

4 Other, please specify

Q56. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the PLS Summary Reports.

Q56_1. The Summary Reports, such as State Profiles, meet my needs.
Q56_2. The Summary Reports provide important information.

Q57. How likely are you to recommend these PLS Summary Reports to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q58. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the PLS Summary Reports? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the reports

6 Other, please specify

Q59. What additional summary products or topical briefs would you recommend?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_6 = 2 (not currently use) or 3 (have never used)]

Q60. How likely are you to use the PLS Summary Reports, such as the State Profile pages, in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q43 if Q3_6 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q61. What are the reasons you do not currently use the PLS Summary Reports, such as the State Profile pages? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 The products or briefs are not relevant to me.

4 The reports are too outdated for my needs by the time they are published.

5 Other, please specify

Q62. What improvements or additions would make you use these products again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q65 if Q3_6 = 3 (have never used)]

Q63. What are the reasons you have never used the PLS Summary Reports, such as the State Profile pages? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I don’t know where to find these reports and briefs.

4 I don’t know how to use these reports and briefs.

5 I was not aware that IMLS offered these reports and briefs.

6 I am only interested in current data, which are not included in these reports and briefs.

7 Other, please specify

Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_7 = 1 (currently use)]

Q64. How frequently do you use the SLAA survey data files?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once a month

Q65. What are the primary reasons you use the SLAA survey data files?

1 To conduct secondary data analysis with multiple data sets

2 To conduct analyses to assess library trends over time

3 To create my own reports or dashboards

4 Other, please specify

Q66. The SLAA survey data files can be downloaded as CSV, SPSS, or SAS files. Do these download options meet your needs?

1 Yes

2 No

[Programmer note: ask Q69 if Q68 = 2 (No)]

Q67. What other download option would be most useful to you?

Open-ended field

Q68. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with each of the following statements about the SLAA survey data files.

	1 Strongly Disagree	2 Disagree	3 Neither Agree nor Disagree	4 Agree	5 Strongly Agree
Q68_1. The SLAA survey public use data files meet my needs overall.
Q68_2. The SLAA survey public use data files are released in a timely manner.
Q68_3. The content (e.g., variable names, variable labels, response values) of the SLAA survey data files is clear.

Q69 In my opinion, the SLAA survey data files are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q69_1 Unimportant	r	r	r	r	r	r	Important
Q69_2 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q69_3 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Complete
Q69_4 Hard to use	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to use

Q70. In my opinion, the Documentation that accompanies the SLAA survey data files are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q70_1 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Comprehensive
Q70_2 Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q70_3 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q70_4 Hard to understand	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to understand

Q71. What other supporting materials would be helpful to accompany the SLAA survey data files?

Open-ended field

Q72. What are some of the challenges you experience with the SLAA survey data files?

Open-ended field

Q73. How likely are you to recommend the SLAA survey data files to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q74. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the SLAA survey data files? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the data set

6 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_7 = 2 (do not currently use) or 3 (have never used)]

Q75. How likely are you to use the State Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) survey data files in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q76 and Q77 if Q3_7 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q76. What are the reasons you do not currently use the SLAA survey data files? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I am only interested in the most current data, which are not available in these files.

4 Other, please specify

Q77. What improvements or additions would make you use the PLS data files again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q78 if Q3_7 = 3 (have never used)]

Q78. What are the reasons you have never used the SLAA survey data files? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I don’t need to make comparisons of my state agency to other states.

3 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

4 The SLAA data is not relevant to my job.

5 I don’t know where to find the SLAA data files.

6 I don’t know how to use the SLAA data files.

7 I don’t have confidence in my ability to run statistical analyses of the data.

8 I don’t have access to statistical software (e.g., SAS, SPSS, Stata, R).

9 I was not aware that IMLS offered SLAA data files.

10 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q3_8 = 1 (currently use)]

Q79. How frequently do you use the SLAA Survey Annual Reports?  

1 One or two times per year

2 About once per month

3 More than once a month

Q80. What are the primary reasons you use the SLAA Survey Annual Reports? [check all that apply]

1 To assess library trends over the years

2 To quickly answer a question I have about using SLAA data without having to download the full data set

3 Other, please specify

Q81. Please indicate whether you agree or disagree with the following statements about the SLAA Survey Annual Reports.

Strongly Disagree

Disagree

Neither Agree nor Disagree

Agree

Strongly Agree

Not Applicable

Q81_1. The SLAA Survey Annual Reports meet my needs.

Q81_2. The SLAA Survey Annual Reports provide important information.

Q82. In my opinion, the SLAA Survey Annual Reports are…

	1	2	3	4	5	6
Q82_1 Incomplete	r	r	r	r	r	r	Comprehensive
Q82_2 Unclear	r	r	r	r	r	r	Clear
Q82_3 Useless	r	r	r	r	r	r	Useful
Q82_4 Hard to understand	r	r	r	r	r	r	Easy to understand

Q83. How likely are you to recommend these SLAA Survey Annual Reports to a colleague?

Not at all likely

Very likely

Q84. What types of enhancements would you recommend for the SLAA Annual Reports? [check all that apply]

1 Usability

2 Visual appeal

3 Content

4 Timeliness

5 Promote awareness of the reports

6 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask if Q3_8 = 2 (not currently use) or 3 (have never used)]

Q85. How likely are you to use the SLAA Survey Annual Reports in the next 3 months?

Not at all likely

Very likely

[Programmer note: ask Q86 and Q87 if Q3_8 = 2 (do not currently use)]

Q86. What are the reasons you do not currently use the SLAA Survey Annual Reports? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 The reports are not relevant to me.

4 The reports are too outdated for my needs by the time they are published.

5 Other, please specify

Q87. What improvements or additions would make you use these products again?

Open-ended field

[Programmer note: ask Q88 if Q3_8 = 3 (have never used)]

Q88. What are the reasons you have never used the SLAA Survey Annual Reports? [check all that apply]

1 I don’t currently use library data in my job.

2 I find other library data products more useful for my needs.

3 I don’t know where to find these reports.

4 I don’t know how to use these reports.

5 I was not aware that IMLS offered these reports.

6 The reports are too outdated for my needs by the time they are published.

7 Other, please specify

[Programmer note: ask the following questions if Q1=1 (Not at all familiar) or Q2=2 (No)]

Q89. How interested are you in public libraries?

Not at all interested

Extremely interested

Q90. How interested are you in learning more about the following data products?

	1 Not at all interested	2	3	4	5 Extremely interested
Q90_1. Downloadable data from a survey of public libraries in the U.S.
Q90_2. Downloadable data from a survey of state library agencies in the U.S.
Q90_3. An interactive tool to query, browse, and view data about individual public libraries.
Q90_4. Annual reports summarizing data about public libraries.
Q90_5. Annual reports summarizing data about state library agencies.
Q90_6. Topical briefs about emerging, timely issues related to public libraries (e.g., COVID, digital transformation).
Q90_7. Summary products using data from library surveys, such as State Profiles.

Q91. What other type of information would you like about public libraries?

Open-ended field

Q92. What are the go-to data tools and resources you use as part of your job?

Open-ended field

1

Strongly Disagree

3

Neither Agree nor Disagree

5

Strongly Agree

6

Not Applicable

Q42_1. The PLS Annual Reports meet my needs.

Q42_2. The PLS Annual Reports provide important information.

Q42_3. IMLS should resume the creation and release of PLS Annual Reports.

Q42_4. The Topical Briefs meet my needs.

Q42_5. The Topical Briefs, such as the Research Brief on Small and Rural Libraries, provide important information.

[Programmer note: ask the following questions of all respondents]

Q93. What is your age? ______ [open ended, permit responses 0-100]

Q94. What is your sex?

1 Male

2 Female

3 Prefer not to answer

Q95. Are you Hispanic or Latino?

1 Yes

2 No

3 Prefer not to answer

Q96. What is your race? (You may select one or more races.)

1 American Indian or Alaska Native

2 Asian

3 Black or African American

4 Native Hawaiian or other Pacific Islander

5 White

6 Some other race

7 Prefer not to answer

Q97. What is the highest level of school you have completed or the highest degree you have received?

1 Less than high school

2 High school graduate – high school diploma or the equivalent (for example: GED)

3 Some college but no degree

4 Vocation or Technical School degree

5 Associate’s degree

6 Bachelor’s degree (for example: BA, AB, BS)

7 Some postgraduate work but no degree

8 Advanced or post-graduate degree (for example: Master’s degree, PhD, EdD, JD)

Q98. Where is your job located?

1 Rural region

2 Suburban region

3 Urban region

File Type	application/vnd.openxmlformats-officedocument.wordprocessingml.document
Author	Johnson, Mihaela
File Modified	0000-00-00
File Created	2021-02-28