Analyzing the MISO Data: Broader Perspectives on Library and Computing Trends

Authors

  • Laurie Allen Haverford College Libraries
  • Neal Baker Earlham College
  • Josh Wilson Brandeis University
  • Kevin Creamer University of Richmond
  • David Consiglio Bryn Mawr College

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18438/B82G7V

Abstract

Objective – To analyze data collected by 38 colleges and universities that participated in the Measuring Information Services Outcomes (MISO) survey between 2005 and 2010.

Methods – The MISO survey is a Web-based quantitative survey designed to measure how faculty, students, and staff view library and computing services in higher education. Since 2005, over 10,000 faculty, 18,000 students, and 15,000 staff have completed the survey. To date, the MISO survey team has analyzed the data by faculty age group and student cohort. Much of the data analysis has focused on changes in the use, importance, and satisfaction with services over time.

Results – Analysis of the data collected during 2008-2010 reveals marked differences in how faculty and students use the library. The most frequently used services by faculty are the online library catalog (3.39 on a 5-point scale), library databases (3.34), and the library website (3.29). In contrast, the most frequently used services by students are public computers in the library (3.61) and quiet work space in the library (3.29). Faculty reported a much higher use of online resources from off campus. Analysis of data from schools where the survey was administered more than once during 2005-2010 reveals that both faculty and students increased their utilization of databases over time. All other significant faculty trends reflected declines in usage, whereas, with the exception of use of the library website, all other student trends reflected no change or increased usage.

Conclusion – As the MISO survey has continued and expanded over the years, the usefulness of rich comparable data from a set of peer institutions over time has increased tremendously. In addition to providing a rich source of data, MISO can serve as a model for how a group of schools can collaborate on a share assessment tool that meets the needs of individual institutions and provides a robust, aggregated dataset for deeper analysis.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Author Biographies

Laurie Allen, Haverford College Libraries

Coordinator for Digital Scholarship and Services

Neal Baker, Earlham College

Library Director

Josh Wilson, Brandeis University

Director for Academic Support and User Services

Kevin Creamer, University of Richmond

Director for Teaching, Learning and Technology Boatwright Memorial Library

David Consiglio, Bryn Mawr College

Head of Research Support and Educational Technology

Downloads

Published

2013-06-11

How to Cite

Allen, L., Baker, N., Wilson, J., Creamer, K., & Consiglio, D. (2013). Analyzing the MISO Data: Broader Perspectives on Library and Computing Trends. Evidence Based Library and Information Practice, 8(2), 129–138. https://doi.org/10.18438/B82G7V

Issue

Section

Features