To deliver a great student experience, the University of Manchester Library is working to ensure the right texts are available to students, in the right format, at the right time. Seemingly a simple goal, there are multiple components which need to be understood and influenced; the behaviours and needs of modern students; academics’ pedagogical practices and curriculums; technological products available; and publishing practices.
The Library has developed a detailed and rich insight into their student population through the ‘know your customer programme’. They wanted to know more about the practices, behaviours and views of academic colleagues in order to drive the reading list project forward. Alterline conducted a predominantly quantitative survey with over 300 academics, which explored:
• the behaviours and practices of academics when curating and managing reading lists
• how they communicate reading requirements and suggestions to students
• current experiences of library services and library technology
• a range of possible product features that could be offered in the future.
The research findings are being used to help the Library develop an action plan, drive further academic engagement and shape discussions with technology providers and publishers. To find out more about this project and our work with libraries please contact us.