Academic Library Survey Template

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Academic Library Survey Preview

Use this academic library survey template to find out where students, researchers, and staff need better support. Eight questions cover finding resources, online access, study spaces, and help from library staff. Customize the questionnaire in SurveyLegend to connect feedback with decisions about your library's services.

When to use this academic library survey

Ask about one academic term or another clearly defined period. Include remote users as well as people who visit the building, and offer a response option for services someone has not used. Distribute the survey beyond the library entrance if you want to hear from people who struggle to access it. This page focuses on library services; our student satisfaction survey template covers the wider student experience.

8 questions for your academic library survey

Start with these questions and adapt them to your audience. Every field is optional. Where answer choices are listed, respondents choose one.

Respondent introduction:
Please think about your use of our library during the current academic term, including online resources. You can answer even if you have used the library rarely or not at all. All questions are optional.

How to customize your academic library survey

Name the library and specify the term. Use the names of your actual catalog, databases, booking tools, and help channels where they improve clarity. Ask about the service rather than a particular staff member. If you need to compare undergraduate and postgraduate experiences, keep groups broad enough to report responsibly. Do not add a long list of resource categories unless you have a decision to make about each one.

Printable academic library survey template

Use this printable academic library survey template at the service desk, during an orientation session, or in a study area. It gives library users a paper option when they prefer not to complete an online form. SurveyLegend helps you collect the same feedback in the format that suits your audience.

AI prompt for an academic library survey

Create an academic library survey in SurveyLegend with questions about resource discovery, online access, study spaces, and staff support.

The full prompt below includes all 8 questions and their response settings. Copy it, register for a free SurveyLegend account, and paste it into SurveyLegend's AI survey creation tool. Review and customize the result before sharing.

Create an academic library survey in SurveyLegend using the exact questionnaire below.

Purpose: Identify barriers to using academic library resources and services.

Requirements:
- Include exactly 8 questions or fields, in the order shown. Preserve the wording, answer choices, choice order, field types, and optional settings verbatim.
- Use one selection for each Single choice field. Show all fields. Preserve instructions about leaving an irrelevant field blank; do not invent automatic branching.
- Do not add scoring, sample answers, claims of validation, or an anonymity promise.
- Keep the respondent introduction below. Any named event, advertisement, use case, review period, or organization referenced must be supplied by the survey creator before sharing. Do not invent these details.
- If a field, setting, or required supporting asset cannot be provided, explain the limitation. Do not silently substitute it or claim a working survey exists.

Respondent introduction:
Please think about your use of our library during the current academic term, including online resources. You can answer even if you have used the library rarely or not at all. All questions are optional.

Exact questionnaire:

1. Which description best matches your current connection to the institution?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Undergraduate student
- Postgraduate student
- Academic or research staff
- Other staff
- Another connection
- Prefer not to answer
Required: No

2. During the current term, how often have you used any library service, including online resources?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Several times a week
- About once a week
- A few times this term
- Once this term
- Not at all
Required: No

3. On your most recent search, did you find the resource or information you needed?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Yes
- Partly
- No
- I have not searched this term
Required: No

4. How easy has it been to access library resources when you are away from campus?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Very difficult
- Somewhat difficult
- Neither easy nor difficult
- Somewhat easy
- Very easy
- I have not tried off-campus access
Required: No

5. How well have the available study spaces suited the work you needed to do?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Not at all well
- Slightly well
- Moderately well
- Very well
- Extremely well
- I have not used the study spaces
Required: No

6. When you asked library staff for help, did you get the information you needed?
Field type: Single choice
Answer choices, in order:
- Yes
- Partly
- No
- I have not asked for help
Required: No

7. What has prevented you from using a library resource or service this term?
Field type: Long text
Answer choices: none; respondent enters their own text.
Required: No

8. What is one change that would make the library more useful for your study or work?
Field type: Long text
Answer choices: none; respondent enters their own text.
Required: No

Before finishing, compare every field with this specification. Report differences separately. Let the creator review and customize the private draft before sharing; do not publish it automatically.

Use prompt directly in SurveyLegend

Create a free account, then paste the copied prompt into SurveyLegend.

Already have an account? Sign in to create your academic library survey.

Turn library feedback into service improvements

Read unsuccessful resource searches alongside comments about online access: a missing item and a sign-in problem need different responses. Separate people who did not use a service from those who used it and found it difficult. Before changing opening hours or purchasing resources, check the comments against usage records and available capacity. Share a short update explaining which suggestions you can act on and which need further investigation.

For example, if respondents can find a journal in the catalog but cannot open it off campus, investigate the access route before buying another subscription. A title that is genuinely missing raises a different collection decision.

Who should receive an academic library survey?

Invite the groups your library serves, including people studying or working remotely. If you only ask frequent visitors, you may miss the reasons others do not use the library.

Can I use it to evaluate digital library services?

Yes. Keep the resource-discovery and off-campus-access questions, then adapt the introduction to your digital services. Remove physical-space questions if they are outside the study's scope.

How should I handle requests for specific resources?

Use comments to identify a title, subject area, or access problem that needs follow-up. Check whether the resource already exists before treating every request as a purchase recommendation. Use your normal request process when a personal response is needed.

Survey Templates for Schools and Teachers

Academic Library Survey Template

When to use this academic library survey

8 questions for your academic library survey

A little feedback. A clearer picture.