UCLH Library Survey 2023-24

UCLH Library Survey 2023-24

In December/January 2023-24 we asked UCLH staff for feedback on the library and its services, in collaboration with UCL Cruciform Hub.

The survey was open from 4th December 2023 - 19th January 2024 and was available online and advertised via email, websites, social media & posters. 42% of respondents were based at NHNN.

Feedback from NHNN respondents 

Examples of Impact                                                                                                                        

• Two areas: 1. they support every literature search I need to do and they do a lot better job than I do in half the time; 2. they can access articles I cannot get from elsewhere.
• Nothing that affected care but I did a literature search for a research project and the staff were very helpful with that
• I used their resources and advice to help prepare a talk that I gave to a large group of health professionals. This will help all of them in their practice and helped me reduce the stress of preparing the talk!
• I used the UCLH library extensively during a project where we delivered aphasia rehabilitation via museum visits. This enabled us to design and deliver a therapeutic intervention which made a measurably positive impact on patients with post-stroke aphasia.
• Needing to find out best way to manage a patients problem
• Allowed study space and materials for MSc module which resulted improved knowledge and treatment techniques with my patients, plus feedback to large team so further spread of knowledge.
• Quiet environment allowing me to write reports. 
• Quiet place to study and access journals as I work in an environment which is noisy and hot desking

Other positive feedback

• Thank you for offering this service, it is greatly appreciated!
• The staff have always been extremely welcoming and friendly when I have met them! 
• Thank you for all your support. I love using the Queen Sq library!
• Friendly helpful and knowledgeable staff.
• I am really impressed with the service it provides

Suggestions for improvement

You say

Awareness

• improve publicity about the library via UCH intranet,maybe
• More signposting about it, I'd only learnt where it was and that I could use it in a teams meeting yesterday afternoon.
• Further information on Open Athens sent round to staff as part of the induction would be useful, with regular reminders continuing regarding the services you offer. Is there any way to set up automatic updates for new articles related to our service?
• I think if the library can be more accessible and more enlightened to the awareness of all staff.

Joining

I have been unable to sign up as I do not have 'valid' documentation to prove my address. Bills etc. are in my partner's name (as it is their property). So I am unable to use the facility. I feel there could be other options available for people in similar situations to mine.

Resources

• More nursing research-rated books are required
• Access to journals beyond what is available on Open Athens would be ideal, plus access to referencing software eg Mendeley.
• In an ideal world I would hugely appreciate being able to access electronic resources from home, or at least from computers within the UCLH network. Library staff are extremely helpful in supplying journal articles when I request them but having to complete a form and wait for someone to get back to me is not as easy as being able to access and download the articles i need myself. 

Opening hours and facilities

•  As someone who only has time to catch up with literature reading / research work at weekends, the Queen Sq. library Monday to Friday opening hours are not ideal, though I do appreciate having access to other UCL libraries at weekends.
• Would love longer hours at Queens Square library (i.e. open later) but appreciate you have already increased these, and have been making the most of that 
• ION Library hours don't seem to facilitate staff access - I think they are closed after 5?
• It is often very cold in the QS library, particularly the study tables. 

Queen Square Library Survey 2020

You Say:

Improve Library environment (more quiet study space; bookable rooms; vending machine; temperature)

People talk SO MUCH in the "silent" study space! Makes it hard to concentrate!

Extend opening hours

Improve IT facilities

(including wifi and UCLH computer access and privacy)

Sell more books

Ensure people don’t just leave their stuff and take up valuable library space

We say

We are implementing a communications plan in collaboration with UCL Cruciform Hub and the UCLH Library steering group.

Please contact us for specific information on the Knowledge Share alerting service.

Library membership have confirmed that documentation doesn’t have to be a utility bill, anything official, e.g. bank statement or mobile phone contract would also be valid.

Please contact us if you have specific suggestions for resources or complete the online form. Please see Reference management software pages for NHS

We have re-introduced opening hours til 7pm and will continue to monitor our usage. However, extending library opening hours further is restricted due to the absence of a security presence at 23 Queen Square. Registered library users can also use all the UCL libraries, many of which have longer opening hours.

Please let us know if you are too hot or cold and we may be able to adjust the aircon

We Say:

We operate as a "quiet" rather than a "silent" study space and the notices on our study space desks say, "Please keep noise levels down by not talking in study spaces". We also conduct regular head count patrols where we remind users of our policies as required . We encourage users to let us know if library study space is being inappropriately used.

Please let us know if you are too hot or cold and we may be able to adjust the aircon.

Space is at a premium in Queen Square, and we maximise the use of space, fitting in as many multi-purpose facilities as possible.  Over summer 2019, we introduced multi-purpose desktop@UCL workstations which can also be used for study.

We monitor usage and know that the occasions where there are no seats available is very rare. The refurbishment of no 7 Queen Square has provided more capacity for study space within the Square.

We do not have the space to accommodate bookable areas, and operate on a first come, first served basis. We also do not have sound proofed rooms or social space for eating.

Unfortunately, extending library opening hours is not currently feasible due to the absence of a security presence at 23 Queen Square.

We will continue to monitor our usage; registered library users can also use all the UCL libraries, many of which have longer opening hours.

In 2019 we had two new hubs installed to ensure reliable wifi throughout the library. We encourage our users to let us know if they do experience difficulties with our wifi connection.

As part of the move to Windows 10, we reviewed our computer provision over Summer 2019. We monitor usage of the UCLH computers, and will review the balance between UCL e-Access Points and UCLH computers this summer. The issue of privacy was also raised at a recent HEE visit, and we are liaising (along with colleagues at the Cruciform) with the UCLH IT Department over effective solutions.

We also occasionally have surplus duplicate books for sale which are displayed in the library, including the Queen Square: A History of the National Hospital and its Institute of Neurology. We also have a book swap in the foyer. We also house and manage Queen Square Archives.

Please contact us for further information.

We discourage users from leaving their belongings, for security as well as space reasons, through signage throughout the library. We also conduct hourly head counts, and support UCL Libraries Share the Space initiative. We encourage users to let us know if library study space is being inappropriately used