Survey Questionnaire

6. Where do you get most of the books

you use?

I. General information
____Female

____Male

Grade/ Section
________________________

1. How often do you visit the library?

Everyday
3-4 times a week
1 to 2 times a week
2-3 time a month
Once a month
Never
2. If you are to use the library, for
what purpose?
For pleasure/personal interest?
For school work?
Both?
3. What was the purpose of your last
visit to the library?
To borrow text/storybooks
To use videos/ Cassettes
To read newspapers/ Magazines
For reference books
To find books/ articles
To study
To browse around
To attend a lesson
To use the photocopier
To use a CD-ROM
4. What do you usually do if you are
having trouble finding information?
Ask the librarian/ assistant
Browse the shelves until I find
something useful
Check the library
catalogue/computer
Search the web
Give up
Other:
5. Do you also use a public library? Ex.
Provincial Library
Yes
Sometimes
No

School library
Public library
Home
II. Reading Habits
7. How often do you borrow books
from the school library to read in your
spare time/at home?
Every week
Every month
Once a term
Once a year
Never
8. What type of books do you enjoy
reading in your spare time?
Fiction
Non-fiction
Poetry
Plays
Fiction
Horror
Thrillers
Detective
Adventure/fantasy
Romance
Science-fiction
Classics
Family/friendships
Non-fiction
Sport
Computer
Cars (vehicles)
Music/films
Comedy/humor
Real life stories
Cartoon
9. Can you find books in the school
library that you enjoy reading in your
spare time?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
Why not?
________________________________

III. The library and services

available
10. Are there any times when the
library is closed but you would like it
to be open?
Longer before school
All through break and lunch
times
Longer after school
At the weekend
No, I am happy with the
opening times
11. Do you use the library to study/do
your homework/coursework in?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
12. How would you describe the
library?
Very important for helping me
with my school work
A place I want to get out of as
soon as possible
A quiet place where I can
concentrate and do my work
A place where I can relax and
read
Noisy and frantic
Hot and stuffy
A place where I can get
together with friends and chat

13. What do you think could be done

to the library to encourage more
pupils to use it/to improve it?
Better signposting
More computers
Internet connection
More up-to-date books
More help through
leaflets/posters, etc.
Improve the appearance/look of
the library
More staff
More tables/desks
Other:
______________________________
14. Are you taught how to find
information in the library?

Yes, we have regular lessons

No
Only if you ask the librarian
Only when you start school
I dont know
15. Do you ask the library staff to help
you?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
Why not?
________________________________
_______________________

16. Is there always someone available

to help you if you need it?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
17. What type of help do you usually
need from the library staff?
Finding things
Recommending
books/magazines/etc.
Using the library catalogue
Using CD-ROMs
Help with projects
Ordering books to borrow from
other libraries
Other:
18. Is the help offered useful?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
Why not?
_______________________
IV. The curriculum and the library
19. For which subjects do you use the
library to help you complete
homework/coursework?
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________

20. Do teachers ask you to use the

library to help you complete
homework/coursework?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
21. For which subjects do teachers
encourage you to use the library?
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
_________________________
22. Can you find useful information to
help you with your school work?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
Why not?
_____________________________________
23. Is the information that you find in
the library generally:
Too easy?
Too difficult?
About the right level?
Mixture
24. Are you able to get hold of popular
books whenever you need them?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
V. ICT resources in the library
25. Do you use the library catalogue
on the computer (OPAC) to find books
in the library?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
Dont know if there is one
26. Can you use the library catalogue
on the computer (OPAC) without help?
Yes

No
Sometimes
Dont know
27. Do you use the computers in the
library for typing up your work?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes
Not very often
Never
28. Do you use internet in the library?
Yes
No
Sometimes
29. Do you think internet is easier to
use?
Yes
No
It depends
30. Do you think the information you
find on the internet is generally:
Too easy
Too difficult
About the right level
Dont know
31. When you have found a document
on the net, what do you do?
Read the whole document
properly before printing it out
Read the whole document and
make notes of the most
important points
Download the document and
make notes of the most
important points
Download the document and
print it out
Read the title only and print it
out
Print out all documents found
Other:
32. Do you find it easier to learn from
information found on the internet than
from books? Please state reasons why:
Yes, because
____________________
No, because
_____________________
Sometimes
_______________________

33. Is there a Computer free when you

want to search on the internet?
Always
Most of the time
Sometimes

Not very often

Never
Source:
Survey of secondary school library users
By Helen Spreadbury and David Spiller
Modified by PNHS-CI Team