All Library Surveys
Spring 2011 Law Library Survey Response
During the Spring 2011 semester, the Law Library conducted a survey asking students to comment on various aspects of the library. 403 students responded. Thanks for all the feedback. This summary is an overview of library responses and actions taken as a direct result of survey input. Many things patrons like best about the library came from student suggestions in prior years, so feel free to comment at any time using our suggestion form.
You can also view several charts summarizing quantitative elements of the Spring 2011 survey.
New Exam Archive System
Historically, access to past exams has been one of the top reasons students visit
the law library website. 
Over the summer, we built a new system for exam archive access, using student survey comments
as a guide for new features. Access the updated Library Exam Archive System using your Georgetown NetID and password. This system retains all existing documents (1998 – present), and search features. The new search form is improved to show items matching your search before you select "Go". You can also download documents in bulk for any course/professor
combination. In addition students will see a personalized list of professors teaching
courses for the current term. This is reset at the beginning of each term, and is updated
within a day or two of any drop/add activity.
Library Environment and Facilities
A recurring theme in this year's survey responses was the need for comfortable
collaboration space to eat, talk, and work on projects as a group. In response to
those requests, Williams 320 was equipped in early September with several
table-and-banquette seats for small groups to work together or even just socialize.
The lounge is just off the current computer lab on the Third Floor West and will
be available on a first-come-first-served basis. Also in response to your suggestions,
we've created a small two-person study room in Williams 525, just inside the Central
doors. You can reserve this space just as you would any group study. We'll continue
to look for ways to create both more group work and small study areas. Finally, we
added an instant hot water faucet to the first floor Williams canteen so that you
can make tea or soup to sustain you during long study stretches. Thank you for
your ideas, and please continue to let us know how we can enhance the library
environment.
Books and Journals
Students ask each year about the availability of materials, including those used for courses for the current semester. For several years, the library has worked with the Georgetown Law bookstore and purchased each required and recommended title for students to view but not remove.
We have made some changes this year in response to survey responses.
- We moved course materials from the open Reading Room Reserve stacks, where the books could not leave the room, to Williams Reserve at the Williams Library Circulation Desk. Reserve books may be checked out for three hours.
- We are working to ensure that we have more copies of books for larger classes. Our policy is to have one book for up to 39 students, two books for 40 to 74 students, and three books for enrollments of 75 students or more. [Please note that library copies of class books are provided as a convenience. Students are expected to purchase the books for class, and should not rely on library copies as a substitute. We do not purchase most statutory supplements.]
- Our circulation staff will be monitoring demand under this new system to determine if we need to purchase additional copies or new titles.
We have also heard that students are interested in more electronic titles, including both books and periodicals. We are providing more online titles each year. Make sure to look for electronic books and journals via our classic or Encore catalog, or our list of databases. ALWAYS ask if you are not able to find what you are looking for or having trouble accessing something we have. Our Reference Librarians are experts on locating materials and that you might not realize are available online.
Power Cords and USB Drives
Late in the spring semester, we purchased several power cords and USB drives for students to check out at either of our two circulation desks. Browse a full list of the items to check out. These include power cords for iPhone, iPad, (most) Mac laptops, Dell and Blackberry devices. In addition, we've got USB drives. We've also got headphones, which we've had for a few years.
Closing Comments
When reading student comments each year, we occasionally receive ideas for services or materials we already provide. In these circumstances, we realize we've got an opportunity to better promote some things we're already doing. Based on survey comments, here are some things we provide that we hope everybody will know:
- Ear plugs are available regularly at the reference desk in each library location.
- Our Quick Guide to Library Locations lists the location of study rooms, printers, and books in our collection.
- Using the online Study Room Reservation system, you can book a group study room. Rarely are all rooms booked simultaneously.
Thanks again for all the input.
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