A university library laptop lending service: an analysis using two student surveys

Abstract

PurposeThis paper aims to report on a study of an academic library's wireless laptop lending service. The authors believed that the unexpectedly low usage level of the Monmouth University Library's Laptop Lending Service (LLS) could best be understood by engaging the intended users of the LLS, that is, the students of Monmouth University, a small university in New Jersey. A formal, systematic survey would provide substantive data that would help the Library to evaluate this service and determine how well it meets the needs and expectations of students and answer the question, “Is it sufficient to provide wireless access?”Design/methodology/approachThe open source application PHP Surveyor was used to construct two web‐based surveys which were conducted two years apart (2005 and 2007). An invitation to participate in the survey was emailed to all registered students. Follow‐up emails attended both surveys.FindingsAmong other things, it was learned that the fact that a large majority of the students believe that an LLS is a valuable service may not, in itself, assure a high level of usage. But also, a high level of personal laptop ownership among students does not necessarily lead to low demand for the service.Practical implicationsThe useful information and ideas that we gained from these surveys could benefit libraries that are planning to implement laptop services, or wish to assess their existing services.Originality/valueFew research studies on library laptop services have focused on the students' perspective. This study does that, but also, uniquely, made it possible to juxtapose results from various similar studies of students and a survey of academic librarians.