(NOTE: Do not agree to participate unless IRB approval information with current dates has been added to the end of this document.)
“Auburn University Libraries LibQUAL+® Lite Survey”
You are invited to participate in a research study to investigate library users’ expectations and perceptions of library service quality at Auburn University Libraries (AUL). This study is being conducted by AUL’s Research & Instruction Department faculty members, Juliet Rumble (Principal Investigator), Piper Cumbo, Adelia Grabowsky, and Jennilyn Wiley, at the direction of Dr. Shali Zhang, Dean, Auburn University Libraries. You are eligible to participate if you are an Auburn University student, faculty member, or administrative/professional employee and are 18 years of age or older.
What will be involved if you participate? Your participation is completely voluntary. You are invited to complete the Association of Research Libraries’ LibQUAL+® Lite Survey. If you decide to participate, you will be asked to answer questions about services offered at Auburn University Libraries, including physical spaces, staff-delivered services, and access to print/electronic resources. Your total time commitment will be approximately 5 minutes.
Are there any risks or discomforts? There are no anticipated risks or discomforts associated with participating in this study.
Are there any benefits to yourself or others? There will be no direct benefit to you from participating. However, the information gathered by the survey will help ensure that Auburn University Libraries resources and services are aligned with user expectations.
Will you receive compensation for participating? There will be no compensation for participating. However, if you complete the survey, you may choose to enter a drawing for an Amazon gift card. A total of 63 Amazon gift cards will be awarded: three gift cards at the $100 level; ten gift cards at the $50 level; and fifty gift cards at the $25 level. Winners will receive their gift card via their AU email. Your responses will remain anonymous even if you choose to enter the drawing. Association of Research Libraries staff detach participants’ emails from LibQUAL+ survey responses before sharing these with AU Libraries.
Are there any costs? There will be no costs involved in participation.
If you change your mind about participating, you can withdraw at any time by closing your browser window. Your participation is completely voluntary. Your decision about whether or not to participate or to stop participating will not jeopardize your future relations with Auburn University or Auburn University Libraries.
Any data obtained in connection with this study will remain anonymous. Survey responses collected by LibQUAL+® Lite are stored on secure, password-protected servers located at a private Association of Research Libraries (ARL) hosting facility. The ARL LibQUAL+ team removes unique identifiers (IP addresses and optional emails) from the survey data that is shared with Auburn University Libraries (AUL). No identifying links between participants and their responses will be shared with AUL. Email and IP addresses are purged from ARL servers six months after the close of the survey. ARL reports LibQUAL+ survey results only in aggregated (pooled) form. Anonymized survey results may be published in a professional journal or presented at a professional meeting.
If you have questions about this study, please contact Dr. Juliet Rumble at rumbljt@auburn.edu or (334) 844-0236.
If you have questions about your rights as a research participant, you may contact the Auburn University Office of Research Compliance or the Institutional Review Board by phone (334) 844-5966 or e-mail at IRBadmin@auburn.edu or IRBChair@auburn.edu.
HAVING READ THE INFORMATION ABOVE, YOU MUST DECIDE IF YOU WANT TO PARTICIPATE IN THIS RESEARCH PROJECT. IF YOU DECIDE TO PARTICIPATE, PLEASE CLICK ON THE LINK BELOW. YOU MAY PRINT A COPY OF THIS LETTER TO KEEP.
Juliet Rumble
Principal Investigator 12/22/2023
