Marine Lab Library focus groups report - November 2014

In 2013, the User Experience Department conducted a university-wide library satisfaction survey.2 In order to follow up on findings from this survey related to the Marine Lab Library, focus groups were requested by Janil Miller. Two focus groups were conducted on November 14, 2014 at Duke Marine Lab library in Beaufort, NC: one with faculty and staff (five participants) and another with students and visiting researchers (eight participants). Each focus group was an hour long. Sessions were recorded but the recordings were deleted after reliable notes were taken. The focus groups were led by Michael Peper (Head, Natural Sciences and Engineering Section) and Joyce Chapman (Assessment Coordinator) took notes. The goals of the focus groups were to determine how people typically use the library, how they would like to use the library in an ideal world, perspectives on the library’s physical space, and community needs related to the collection, training, and software/technology.