Online surveys and polls enable you to conduct research and gather feedback that is valuable to inform the development of the school library and to hear what your users have to say.

Such surveys can also be a useful advocacy tool in the form of gathering and disseminating information. Have you used online surveys to gather suggestions from staff and students about their recommendations for the collection? How about a poll to find students’ favourite places to read? Certain information gathered can also be used as evidence for reporting on specific issues within the library’s annual report.  

• Some tips to remember:
• Keep surveys and polls short and relevant
• Consider what information you require e.g. Yes / no answers or more open responses
• Be prepared to deal with any unexpected consequences of participants’ responses such as actions required to address specific issues raised
• Promote your survey or poll through all available channels: school website, newsletter, daily notices, library blog or wiki, school library Facebook page.
• Also check out Five Guiding Principles of good survey design

For a very comprehensive run down on survey and polling tools take a look at the Webtools4u2use site. PollDaddy is a great tool if you want to embed a quick poll into your school library wiki or blog. I have used Survey Monkey and Zoomerang and have found them both equally easy to use and effective for carrying out short surveys.

Maxine

flickr image from: doug88888