Forwarding at the request of the ALA Core Library Binding Practices survey team....
The ALA Core Library Binding Practices survey team invites you to fill out this survey about your library binding practices. This survey is unique as it focuses exclusively on library binding. The goal of the survey is to gain a better understanding of who is using library binding as a preservation and access method, and how programs might compare in size, scope, and budget. Results will be analyzed by the survey team and a report of findings will be shared with the community.
We hope to get a broad representation of libraries including small, medium, and large academic, public, and special libraries. Please share this survey as widely as possible to help us broaden the survey's reach.
Please submit one form per organization if possible. If your organization has multiple libraries, each with its own bindery contract, then each organizational unit can submit a survey. If you have centralized your library binding workflows, please submit just one survey.
The survey is expected to take on average 20 minutes. Deadline for submissions is September 30, 2022.
What data should you gather?
Prior to opening the survey, please gather the following information from 2018, 2019, 2021, and 2022. Pick the closest year-end dates that correspond to these years (e.g. Fiscal year, calendar year, etc.).
- Library binding statistics (total numbers, numbers broken down by format if you have them, etc.)
- How much did you spend on library binding
- Library binding staffing (FTE and students)
- Have an understanding of your organizational chart, library binding policies and workflows.
- We will also ask you to think about other services you wish your library binder provided. No idea is too far outside the box.
Please note: We have not asked for identifiable data in the questions. Please be mindful of this when filling out the survey, especially in the free-text answer boxes. For example, do not answer "At Duke Libraries we send every book to the library binder no matter what." Simply respond, "We send every book to the library binder no matter what." If you want a copy of the survey report you will be asked to provide an email address at the end, which will not be attached to your survey answers.
Survey link: https://duke.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_dnd9cTPlfNXCiy2
What will we do with this data?
With recent conversations regarding changes to library binding services, materials, and practices, we are hoping to capture how you are currently using library binding, and identify trends both before and after the Covid shut downs of 2020-2021, with full realization that 2020 would be a year of adverse numbers, thus its omission from the survey.
The results will be presented at ALA Annual in 2023 at the Preservation Administration Interest Group (PAIG), on the online PAIG Community page, and published through other channels. Survey respondents will get a copy of the report if they choose to provide an email address.
Thank you for your help,
Tanya Ellenburg-Kimmet, University of Dayton Libraries
Richenda Brim, Stanford University Libraries
Mark Coulbourne, University of Maryland Libraries
Beth Doyle, Duke University Libraries
Joyce Chapman, Duke University Libraries
------------------------------
Kara McClurken
Director, Preservation Services
University of Virginia
Charlottesville VA
------------------------------