ERIC Number: ED456836
Record Type: Non-Journal
Publication Date: 2001
Pages: 30
Abstractor: N/A
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: N/A
EISSN: N/A
Available Date: N/A
Focus Group Interview Evaluation Report for the LSTA.
Burnham, Byron R.; Gilbert, Virginia E.
The Utah State Library Division conducted an evaluation of its participation in the Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA). The evaluation plan determined by the Utah State Library Division used two approaches designed to examine issues and achievements related to LSTA: focus groups and a statewide survey. Utah State University (USU) was involved in the focus group interview (FGI) segment, which explored selected goals and objectives from the grant recipient's and patron's points of view. The purpose of this report is to document the specific activities and findings of USU's portion of the evaluation. One aspect of this FGI project was careful identification of homogeneous groups. Suggestions for groups included library administrators, reference librarians, library patrons, LSTA participants, LSTA non-participants, and PIONEER system users and support staff. Results from LSTA and PIONEER focus group interviews are outlined. The results are combined because responses to interview questions were very similar. Each question has been divided into two sections: Positive Comments and Concerns. Within both sections, responses are further grouped into common themes with the most frequent responses (mentioned three or more times) given in italics. Interview questions include: (1) What are your impressions of the LSTA? (2) Describe the LSTA program as it operates in your library; (3) How has the LSTA affected the workload? (4) What have been the effects of LSTA on customer service? (5) How had the LSTA affected local financial and technical support? (6) What are your perceptions of PIONEER and its service to your patrons? (7) What is the level of support and training for PIONEER? and (8) What are your suggestions as well as future needs and concerns? Impressions by LSTA non-participants of the LSTA and PIONEER are given, followed by direct quotes or paraphrased answers of both "PIONEER users" and "automation users" to the question asking for their impressions of the Library's technology support and of PIONEER. (AEF)
Publication Type: Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: Utah State Univ., Logan. Dept. of Instructional Technology.
Identifiers - Laws, Policies, & Programs: Library Services and Technology Act 1996
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A
Author Affiliations: N/A