Improving the Implementation of a Research Tool: Methods to Increase Library Survey Response Rates

In the winter of 1992 we began research into the implementation of a university-wide survey. This project grew out of discussion about ways Merrill Library could be more responsive through collection development to changing trends in course offerings and research emphases at Utah State University. It was felt that our collection development policies traditionally answered and were based upon teaching needs but might not address research-related needs adequately. This was in large part due to a lack of information about the evolution of research directions throughout the USU community. The problem was further exacerbated by the spiraling costs of journal subscriptions and splinterization of journals into sub-specialty titles. We decided to implement a survey to identify specific areas of research and what journals might be needed to support such research