April 26, 2006
LSO Survey Results
88 Respondents Thank you!
Some questions allowed multiple answers, and
they are identified by *M.
| Public librarian 39% | Academic librarian 42% |
| K-12 librarian 15% | Information manager/broker 16% |
| Special librarian 28% | Archivist 23% |
| Digital librarian 25% | Not sure yet 19% |
|
Others: Medical/Health 2% Children's/YA 1%
|
Corporate/Entrepreneurial 2%
Art/Museum 1% Researcher 1% |
Residence:
Tucson
(63%)
Phoenix area (18%)
Others by numbers:
Chandler 3, Peoria 1,
Mesa 2, Prescott 1, Glendale 3, Tempe 1,
Queen Creek 1, Scottsdale 2
Another state: New Mexico 2 (1 ABQ)
Another Country: Oman 1
Gender:
Male
14%
Female 86%
| 21-25 14% | 26-30 24% | 31-40 24% | 41-50 20% | 51-60 17% |
Children? 35%
Pets? 69%
*M (some have kids and pets,
some only kids, some only pets)
| 3 units 20% | 6 units 38% | 9 units 41% | 12+ units 1% |
| Spring 2006 11% | Spring 2007 18% | Spring 2008 10% |
| Summer 2006 5% | Summer 2007 17% | Summer 2008 2% |
| Fall 2006 18% | Fall 2007 11% | Fall 2008+ 3% |
| less than 10 7% | 10-20 22% | 20-30 22% | 40+ 40% |
Prior library or information environment experience? 51%
Findings
Really, a pretty good sample of our population (thanks, Brian): 25%-30%?.
My analysis:
1) Many of us are undecided as to career field (probably a good thing). That 25% of us (+ or -), checked archivist or special librarian seems significant.
2) Approximately 37% of us are not in Tucson. Reach out, practice support! Maybe, personally email a virtual student who is out of town.
3) Many of us work 40+ hours per week. Wow, practice support! LSO tries! Based on responses, we will try more weekend gatherings.
4) Gender, age, children, pets... Ahh, we're all human. Some of us have children, some of us familial responsibilities, some of us a need to be young, some of us have other issues/non-issues. Whatever--we're all in SIRLS. Let's be kind, and be there for each other.
5) Approximately 84% of us are graduating Fall '06 and beyond--Hey, come on, let's make a difference, be active, be a voice. Every single voice counts. Vote '06 (sorry, citizen alert).
Based on your responses as to what extra-curricular activites and programs are of most interest to you, LSO will explore:
1) Online chat which is always open, but which will also have regularly scheduled times during which at least one LSO officer, or other volunteer, will be available. We are hoping that all SIRLS students would be aware of those designated times, and thereby active discussions could take place. Of course, as with any chatroom, students could arrange to private-chat with each other. Do we want the online chat to be outside of the U of A?
2) Social activities on weekends. We'll give it a try, in Tucson and Phoenix area.
3) A third of us are interested in "volunteer/service-oriented activities in our communities that are library-oriented." Go team. Perhaps, LSO has not addressed that issue, but we will now!
4) Professional development. Please, tell us what you want! We've tried lunchtime. Would evenings or weekends attract more of you?
Thanks everybody! Any comments, questions, and/or concerns may be sent to:
Lynne Collins
LSO Program Coordinator
coll7777@email.arizona.edu
See the comments from the survey.