Montclair State University

You are invited to participate in a Web-based survey that measures library service quality at Montclair State University.  The survey, LibQUAL+, is a large-scale, user-based assessment of library service effectiveness that was developed by the Association of Research Libraries. The LibQUAL+ survey takes about fifteen minutes to complete.

I am contacting you because you are part of the random sample chosen to represent all Montclair State University students and faculty. When a sample survey is done it is very important to get good participation so I hope you will choose to respond. Let me assure you that if you participate, your responses will be held in confidence. No identifying links between responses and the individual responding will be retained. Combined data only will be reported.

RISKS AND BENEFITS TO SUBJECTS
(a) There are no risks to the respondents other than the ordinary risks of daily life and chosen occupation. Respondents are free to decline to participate in the survey and can elect to leave the survey incomplete.

(b) The benefits to the respondents are those to the universities generally. Through this survey, New Jersey’s academic libraries will be able to assess the returns on their annual investment in terms of user evaluation of service quality. Strength and weaknesses across the several dimensions defining service quality will be identified, best practices among participating universities will also surface, allowing libraries to work collegially with other institution to improve local practices.

CONFIDENTIALITY OF DATA

Although some information is captured from respondents, such as network addresses and e-mail addresses, the respondent’s privacy is protected in several ways. First, only very indirect information is captured, which would be difficult to trace back to an individual. Second, extreme measures are taken to separate identifiable information from surveys with responses; for example, e-mail addresses are collected for the incentive prizes only and not saved with responses. Once they are collected, there is no way to link them to an individual’s responses, ensuring confidentiality for participants in the incentive drawings.

METHODOLOGY
Each survey will take place in March/April 2008 via the Web-based LibQUAL+ 2008 Survey instrument, which is accessed from the personal computers of participants and/or workstations on the campuses of the participating institutions. Individual responses of participants will be wholly confidential.  Potential respondents may elect at any time not to proceed with the survey without penalty.  If you choose, you can enter a drawing for prizes ranging from a $25 gift certificate to the MSU Campus Bookstore to a $10 gift certificate to the Café Diem in the Library by keying in your e-mail address at the end of the survey.

By selecting the following link, you are consenting to participate in the LibQUAl+ 2008  Survey and to the future use of this data:  http://survey.libqual.org/index.cfm?ID=887606

If you have any difficulty in accessing or taking the survey, please contact me, Mary Mallery, Associate Dean for Technical Services, either by email or phone (X7150). Many thanks for helping us out with this important survey.

******************************************
* Mary Mallery, Ph.D.  
* Assoc. Dean for Technical Services   Harry A. Sprague Library
* Montclair State University
* Upper Montclair, NJ 07043
* Phone: 973-655-7150  
* E-mail: libdean@mail.montclair.edu   
******************************************

This project was approved by the Montclair State University Institutional Review Board on April 3rd, 2008. If you have questions about your rights phone or e-mail the IRB Chair, Joan Besing (besingj@mail.montclair.edu, 973-655-3182) or the IRB Administrator, Fitzgerald Edwards (edwardsf@mail.montclair.edu , 973-655-7781).