NEW READING ROOM

[Richard Ovenden <ab240ro@admin.nls.uk>]

                         NATIONAL LIBRARY OF SCOTLAND

                        NORTH READING ROOM & MUSIC ROOM

                                   A SURVEY

The National Library of Scotland is planning a new reading room for manuscripts,
rare books and music. It is hoped that this room will open in 1999 or 2000.

If you have used the North Reading Room or the Music Room in the past year we
invite you to complete the following questionnaire on your views on the present
facilities and services now on offer and on how they should operate in the new
reading room. 

Please delete all but the most appropriate responses(s) to each question. As
two
reading rooms are involved please make clear which room your responses apply
to.

Please send responses, questions or comments directly to me and not to the list.
If there is sufficient interest I will summarize the results of the survey at
a later date. I would appreciate receiving your responses to the survey by 8th
November 1996. 

Thank you for your co-operation.


Richard Ovenden
Department of Printed Books
National Library of Scotland
George IV Bridge
EDINBURGH
EH1 1EW

Tel: 0131 226 4531 x 2512
Fax: 0131 220 6662
E-mail: r.ovenden@nls.uk



1. Which of the following have you consulted in the NRR/Music Room?
   a: Manuscripts  b: Rare Books  c: Music  


2. What was your purpose in using the collections?
   a: Undergraduate research                   e: Business enquiry
   b: Postgraduate research                    f: Family history
   c: General Academic/Scholarly research      g: Local history
   d: Picture research                         h: Other (please specify:)


3. How often have you used the NRR/Music Room in the last year?
   a: Daily                      d: Less frequently
   b: Weekly                     e: This is my first visit
   c: Monthly                    f: Other (please specify:)


4. At what time of day do you normally read in the NRR/Music Room?
   a: Morning                    c: Evening
   b: Afternoon                  d. Saturday


5. How long do you usually spend in the NRR/Music Room at one time?
   a: Up to 1 hour               d: 6-8 hours
   b: 2-4 hours                  e: Other (please specify:)
   c: 4-6 hours


6. Which other libraries/repositories have you used most in the last year?
   Please specify:






7. How did you learn about the National Library of Scotland's collections?
   a: NLS publicity/publications   d: Other Library/repository
   b: Other publications           e: Lectures/exhibitions
   c: Word of mouth                f: Internet 
                                   g: Other (please specify:)



8. Where is your usual place of residence?
   a: Edinburgh                  d: Elsewhere in Europe
   b: Elsewhere in Scotland      e: USA/Canada 
   c: Elsewhere in the UK        f: Other (please specify:)
                   

  


9. The present opening hours of the NRR/Music Room are:
   a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory  c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
   e: Unacceptable      

Comments:





10. Admission procedures before reaching the NRR/Music Room are straightforward.
    a: Strongly agree  b: agree  c: No opinion  d: Disagree   
    e: Strongly disagree

Comments:




11. The present system of issuing readers' tickets in the NRR/Music Room is:
    a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory  c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
    e: Unacceptable

Comments:







12. The present level of service from staff in the NRR/Music Room is:
    a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory  c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
    e: Unacceptable

Comments:





13. Would you find it useful to be able to speak to staff in a separate room?
    a: Yes   b: No    c: No opinion

Comments:









14. At present, invigilators in the NRR are on duty for half a day at a time.
    It would be helpful if the same person was on duty for longer periods.
    a: Strongly agree  b: agree  c: No opinion  d: Disagree
    e: Strongly disagree

Comments:






15. The present procedures for ordering and return of material in the NRR/Music
    Room are:
    a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory  c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
    e: Unacceptable
    
Comments:




16. Present waiting times for delivery of material in the NRR/Music Room are:
    a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory  c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
    e: Unacceptable


Comments:


17.   Please rate the following in relation to the NRR/Music Room:

      Catalogues:       
      Excellent   Satisfactory  No Opinion  Unsatisfactory  Unacceptable


      Leaflets:
      Excellent   Satisfactory  No Opinion  Unsatisfactory  Unacceptable


      Signs:
      Excellent   Satisfactory  No Opinion  Unsatisfactory  Unacceptable

Comments:










18. The reprographics service offered in the NRR/Music Room is:
    a: Excellent  b: Satisfactory   c: No opinion  d: Unsatisfactory
    e: Unacceptable

Comments:




19. The NRR/Music Room is a congenial place in which to work (e.g.: general
    atmosphere, space, comfort levels).
    a: Strongly agree  b: agree  c: No opinion  d: disagree  
    e: Strongly disagree

Comments:




20. The noise levels (e.g.: from the staff, other readers,
    lap-tops, air-conditioning, machinery) in the NRR/Music Room are tolerable.
    a: Strongly agree b: Agree  c: No opinion  d: Disagree
    e: Strongly disagree

Comments:





21. Please rate the following in relation to the NRR/Music Room:

   Desks:   
   Excellent  Satisfactory  No Opinion  Unsatisfactory  Unacceptable



   Chairs:
   Excellent  Satisfactory  No Opinion  Unsatisfactory  Unacceptable


   
Comments:











22.  Do you envisage bringing your own portable computer to the new reading   
     room?
     a: Yes           b: No         c: No opinion

Comments:




23. Would you like to be able to access the internet in the new reading room?
    a: Yes           b: No          c: No opinion

Comments:




24. Would you be prepared to make greater use of surrogates in the new reading
    room (e.g.: microforms, facsimiles, digital images)?
    a: Yes           b: No          c: No opinion

Comments:





25.  Would you be prepared to accept increased security measures in the new 
     reading room?
    a: Yes     b: No  c: No opinion  
 
Comments:




26.  If you have any further comments to make on the present and future       
     arrangements for consulting rare books, music and manuscripts
     please note them below:





Please leave your name and address below if you would be willing to respond to
a follow up telephone call or e-mail message.

Name:                                                                         
Address:                                                                      
                                                                              
E-mail:                                                              


Thank you for your co-operation.