Library Services survey 2023: our response

A sincere thank you to all those who completed the survey in December 2023, focussing on their experience of using the library during the Autumn term. 

94% of users rated their overall experience of the library as ‘Very Good’ or ‘Good’

We are very pleased with this result, and especially the free text comments that let us know how much you appreciate the library, particularly its staff, the clean study spaces and access to resources.

  • 91% of users thought that staff were helpful and knowledgeable
  • 86% of users thought it was easy to access library support 
  • 85% of users agreed that they’d been able to access the material needed for their course or research

You said, we did: responding to your survey feedback

The information you provide genuinely helps us improve our services for all at the University of Birmingham. We wanted to share with you how we are taking you feedback forward and initiatives that are taking place to better support your needs:   

Co-creating services with students

It is important to us that we take input from students at the very start of our projects, for them to be truly co-creators of the services we deliver. This year we have employed 30 taught students (undergraduate and postgraduate) to help us create services that work for you. 

Study spaces

Though new study spaces have opened over the past two years, your feedback suggests that we need to do better in informing people about those spaces, and look at why some other spaces are underutilised or not popular. A new working group will be looking at how spaces are used, what your needs are and why students choose certain spaces, and what more we can do to raise awareness of campus study spaces. 

Storage for scooters: sustainable travel

Library users have requested safe storage for scooters and folding bikes. Lockers have been purchased for the Main Library and will be installed soon.

Access to skills support

More one-to-one skills appointments are now available for students to book, with a limited amount in the evenings to better suit your schedules. Workshops are also now recorded and available online for those who cannot attend during the day. 

Access to resources

Though our survey shows there is a high level of satisfaction for students accessing the material they need, there are still some areas where either we can develop our content, or work with academics to improve and update resource lists. We’re setting up a new working group within the library to look at how we can make improvements. 

Postgraduate researcher needs

We’d like to better understand the needs of our PGR students, and will be running a pilot project in one school to investigate their use of collections, such as print, ‘e’, and Special Collections, gaps in skills support and space, such as for study and for consultation. 

Postgraduate Research Suite lockers

Following PGR feedback we have reviewed the management of the lockers in the Researchers Suite and will no longer empty them weekly.

Our thanks again for your feedback, and remember you can let us know your thoughts anytime via our online form

Colleges

Professional Services