SPEC Survey Distribution
ARL gathers data from its member libraries in a variety of ways. The two most prominent methods are the annual statistical compilations conducted by the ARL Statistics and Assessment program and the SPEC surveys. Six SPEC surveys are distributed annually to ARL member libraries via this ARL Web page. Each member library has a designated SPEC Survey Liaison who coordinates distribution of the surveys to the relevant person in the library and tracks survey responses.
2010 SPEC Surveys
SPEC Survey on Special Collections Engagement
This survey examines exhibits, events, instruction, and other activities that are targeted to engage students, faculty, and other scholars/researchers with special collections for research and education. It investigates who coordinates these activities, where they are held, how they are promoted, and how they are evaluated. It also asks for examples of events and policies. Through the results of this survey, we hope to determine the variety of engagement models currently being used in special collections at ARL member libraries and to identify the successful models.
Note: For the purposes of this survey, “special collections” is used as an umbrella term for the facility that houses rare books and serials, manuscripts, archival materials, and/or other unique collections.
This survey was designed by Adam Berenbak, Research Services Associate; Cate Putirskis, University Archives Specialist; Genya O’Gara, Libraries’ Fellow; Claire Ruswick, Library Associate; Danica Cullinan, Library Associate; Judy Allen Dodson, Curatorial Assistant; and Emily Walters, Library Associate, of the North Carolina State University Libraries’ Special Collections Research Center, and Kathy Brown, Director of Planning and Research for North Carolina State University Libraries.
Survey posted February 8, 2010.
Survey deadline March 1, 2010.
SPEC Survey on Evaluating E-resources
This survey reexamines the issues recognized and assessed by SPEC Kit 253, Networked Information Resources (December 1999). As the events of the last decade have shown, much has changed about how these resources are developed, acquired, and served to users. For the purposes of this survey, networked information resources are defined as “commercially available electronic information resources (databases, e-texts, e-journals, datasets, and information resources) funded or enabled by the library, which are made available to authorized users through a pre-existing network.”
This survey is designed to re-examine the ways in which ARL member libraries have (re)structured themselves to identify the availability of new e-resources in the market; evaluate new e-resources as candidates for acquisition; decide to acquire/purchase the e-resources; evaluate e-resources prior to their renewal to determine their continued utility; and publicize or market the new e-resources.
This survey was designed by Richard Bleiler, Humanities Librarian, and Jill Livingston, Liaison to Allied Health, Kinesiology, and Physical Therapy, University of Connecticut.
Survey posted February 1, 2010.
Survey deadline February 22, 2010.
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