Legal Research

Laptop Circulation in an Academic Library

By admin

Jeff Trzeciak, University Librarian at McMaster University Library in Hamilton Ontario, is reporting the results of their laptop survey on his blog. I find it interesting so take a look:

Laptop Survey

Here’s some of the data (background in the post)
“Frequency of use: 20% used the laptops only once; 40% 2-5 times; 9% 6-10 times; 31% more than 10 times

Purpose: 9% for IM; 11% for ?recreational use?; 20% for email; the remainder for something related to coursework/research/studying

Application: 41% Word; 23% excel; 20% powerpoint; 14% access

Location: 84% in the library; 16% outside the library

Period: 41% want to use them for 6 hours; 37% for 4 hours; 14% overnight; 8% 24 hours

Laptop vs desktop: 79% prefer laptop over desktop

PC vs Mac: 67% prefer pc

Personal laptop: 85% own their own laptop

Computer at home: 94% have a computer where they live

Class year: was almost evenly divided between years 1-4; only 5% are grad students

Faculty: 25% science; 19% business; 18% engineering; 14% social sciences; 5% health sciences; 14% humanities; remaining ?other?”

Anyone else getting similar results? This seems like a simple poll/survey to do, just ask them to fill out a SurveyMonkey when they’re picking up or returing the laptop (or any other equipment that is lent like e-readers, iPods, MP3 players, adaptive devices, etc.)!

Stephen

Full post as published by Stephen's Lighthouse on March 30, 2010 (boomark / email).