NMRLS posted three online surveys for member participation in April 2004. In recent years the Member Satisfaction Survey drew about 100 responses. This year response was slightly below normal. The specific Database Survey was separated to encourage participation in the main Member Satisfaction survey by keeping it shorter. The database survey drew only 24 responses. The Directors Preference survey was new. It was designed to assist in prioritization of library needs, should we find additional resources at our disposal. Responses came only from academic and public libraries. To see the full summary of these member surveys, please visit: www.nmrls.org/surveys/2004memsat/

Responses were distributed as follows:

Member Satisfaction
87 responses -- 27 Academic, 25 Public, 32 School, 3 Special

Directors Preferences
32 responses -- 4 Academic, 28 Public, 0 School, 0 Special

Database Survey
24 responses -- 3 Academic, 7 Public, 8 School, 6 Unknown

Member Satisfaction Survey Results (87 responses)

The top ten NMRLS services receiving the highest percentage of "excellent" ratings were: Gale Group (database); the Regional Reference and Information Center at Lawrence Law Library; NOBLE ILL Center; NewsBank (database); Regional Reference and Information Center at Memorial Hall Library; Andover; the NMRLS Web site; WorldCat (database); the Online Continuing Education Calendar; Continuing Education and NMRLS Training programs; and the Memorial Hall Library, Andover, ILL Center.

For a chart of results, please visit: www.nmrls.org/surveys/2004memsat/member-satisfaction.pdf

We asked members to tell us what was important to their libraries as NMRLS embarks on a strategic planning process. Among the many responses to this question, many stated the importance of various services and the need to look toward the future in terms of technology, funding, and the need to address school library media center issues.

There were 25 responses of "not satisfied." NMRLS staff is contacting those who indicated dissatisfaction to learn if there are steps we can take to improve services. NMRLS staff, Executive Board, and committees will be reviewing all comments.

Database Survey Results (24 responses)

The top ten NMRLS databases receiving an "excellent" were: Health Reference Center Academic (Gale Group), Expanded Academic ASAP (Gale Group), Biography Resource Center (Gale Group), Worcester Telegram & Gazette (NewsBank), Contemporary Literary Criticism, Junior Edition (K-12 - Gale Group), General Business File ASAP (Gale Group), Boston Globe (NewsBank), General Reference Center Gold (Gale Group), and WorldCat.

For a chart of results, please visit: www.nmrls.org/surveys/2004memsat/databases.pdf

Responses to the Database Survey showed that all respondents who use the services, except one, rated these services as either excellent or satisfactory.

Directors Preferences Survey (32 responses)

The top ten areas for NMRLS resource allocation ranked as "extremely important" were: restoring the Net Lender Reimbursement, expanding Continuing Education sessions, expanding Database titles, expanding training and consulting onsite services, expanding Delivery to more libraries, expanding MassCat to more libraries, contracting with more well-known speakers for CE programs, reducing ILL shipping fees, posting more images on the Digital Library, and adding more hours to the Regional Reference Center at Lawrence Law Library.

For a chart of results, please visit: www.nmrls.org/surveys/2004memsat/directors-preferences.pdf

Directors commented on services, some at length, with suggestions to enhance services, e.g., provide practical training and advertise courses carefully to allow members to accurately evaluate their need to attend. NMRLS staff, Executive Board, and committees will be reviewing all comments in the coming months.