Dear List Members,

I am a postgraduate student in the Department of Information Studies at the
University of Sheffield and a long time lurker and occasional contributor to
this list. My dissertation is an ethnographic survey of Lis-Link. I'm
hoping to find out who uses the list, how, why and what for. To this end I
need your help. Could you please take the time to complete the following
questionnaire (available as an attached word document, as well as in the
main body of the e-mail, for those who prefer that format) and return it to
me (not the list!) at: [log in to unmask]

Thanks in anticipation,


Vicky Wiseman
*******************************************
MSc Information Management
Dept. of Information Studies
University of Sheffield
[log in to unmask] <mailto:[log in to unmask]>
*******************************************


LIS-LINK USAGE SURVEY

The following questionnaire forms part of the research for a dissertation
being carried out by a MSc Information Management student based in the
Department of Information Studies, University of Sheffield. The focus of
this dissertation is an ethnographic survey of Lis-Link, to find out how the
list is used and how members perceive the list. Could you please spare the
time to complete this survey as fully as possible, since the more
respondents there are, the fuller the picture will be. All answers will be
treated in the strictest confidence and all respondents will remain
anonymous.

Please indicate the answer you wish to give by placing an 'X' alongside the
option you choose, e.g.
Would you recommend membership of Lis-Link to others?
Yes
Yes, I already have done so X
No


1. How long have you been a member of Lis-Link?

a) Less than a month
b) Less than three months
c) Less than six months
d) Less than a year
e) 1-2 years
f) 3-5 years
g) More than 5 years


2. Are you subscribed to any other LIS mailing lists?

YES
NO
If 'YES' which ones (please list)?


3. Why do you subscribe to Lis-Link? (If you have more than one reason
please number them in order of priority, with the highest being 1, the next
2 and so on.)

a) To receive BUBL update bulletins
b) To participate in / observe issue-based debate
c) To exchange information
d) To maintain professional 'current awareness'
e) To feel part of a wider professional community
f) To receive help with work-related problems or queries
g) To answer other members' queries
h) Other (explain)


4. Have you ever posted a message to the list?

YES
NO


5. If 'NO' why not?

a) Never had anything I wanted to say / ask?
b) Worried about making a fool of myself
c) Not sure if this was the right forum for my request / comment
d) Other (please explain)


6. If 'YES' approximately how many times have you posted to the list?

a) once only
b) 2-5
c) 6-10
d) 11-20
e) 21 +


7. What prompted you to post to the list (tick all that apply)

a) Needing information on behalf of an external user e.g. reference enquiry
b) Needing assistance / advice / feedback on a library management issue
c) To answer a previously posted enquiry
d) To announce an event, training course, job vacancy or other
e) To initiate discussion on a point of professional interest
f) To respond to an ongoing discussion
g) Concern at list usage


8. When you respond to a request for information, do you post to the list
or directly to the enquirer?

a) To the list
b) To the enquirer
c) Depends on the circumstances (explain if necessary)


9. When you contribute to an ongoing discussion do you post to the list, or
mail your comments directly to the person to whom you are responding?

a) To the list
b) To the previous mailer
c) Depends on the circumstances (explain if necessary)


10. Have you made any personal or professional contacts as a consequence of
mailing to the list?

YES
NO

If 'YES' please give brief details



11. Do you think that your membership of Lis-Link affects your work:

a) Positively
b) Negatively
c) Doesn't affect my work at all

Please explain if necessary.


12. Lis-Link's 'motto' is: "lis-link: keeping in touch with each other,
keeping each other in touch"; to what extent to you think the list fulfils
this aim? (Please put a 'X' underneath the relevant number on the scale).

To a greater extent 5 4 3 2 1 To a lesser extent



13. What do you think Lis-Link should be used for? (Tick all that apply).

a) Information exchange regarding reference / other user queries
b) Information exchange regarding library management issues
c) Debate / discussion
d) Event / news announcements
e) Seeking / giving assistance with specific information needs
f) Gaining survey feedback
g) Other (please explain)



14. What do you think Lis-Link should not be used for? (Tick all that
apply).

a) Video requests
b) Debate / discussion
c) Event / course / news announcements
d) Information exchange regarding reference / other user queries
e) Information exchange regarding library management issues
f) Raising political / ethical issues which may be of concern to list
members
g) Gaining survey feedback
h) Other (please explain)



15. To what extent do you feel part of a Lis-Link community?

Very Much 5 4 3 2 1 Not at all


If you can, please explain you reasons for your answer.




16. Would you recommend membership of Lis-Link to others?

Yes
Yes, I already have done so
No



In order to get an idea of who is using Lis-Link, it would be very helpful
if you could answer the following questions. All data will be kept
anonymous.

17. Are you:

Male
Female


18. How old are you?

a) Under 24
b) 25 - 30
c) 31-40
d) 41-50
e) 51-64
f) 65+


19. What sector of library and information services do you work in?

a) Student
b) Industrial / commercial
c) Academic
d) School / F.E
e) Public
f) Health
g) Government
h) Financial / Legal
i) Voluntary / Charity
j) Consultancy
k) Other LIS
l) Outside LIS


20. How many years have you worked in library and information services?

a) 1-2
b) 3-4
c) 5-10
d) 11-20
e) 21 +


21. What is your approximate job classification?

a) Student / Graduate Trainee
b) First professional post
c) Managerial / supervisory position
d) Subject specialist
e) Senior managerial position
f) Head of Library / Information Service
g) Consultant
h) Other

22. Would you be willing to answer further questions about your use of and
opinions about Lis-Link?

YES
NO

If 'YES' please provide contact details:


Thank you very much for your co-operation. Results will be made available
to the list in due course.