GALILEO User Survey 2001
Narrative Comments
The number of usable surveys returned (311) was down precipitously from last year (1,121 in 2000). However, the percentage of survey respondents who took the time to offer narrative comments rose to 44% (35% in 2000). Survey question 7 was "I would improve GALILEO by. . ." That question asked users to offer their opinions on shortcomings or areas for possible improvement, so it is understandable that some comments would be less than favorable. However, 25% of those did comment took the opportunity to express their appreciation. Here are some comments representative of the positive feelings about GALILEO:
COOL!!!!!!! (Middle school student)
More full text! Everything else is great - I really appreciate this service. (Graduate student)
Keep on keepin' on. You do more than I could ever ask/hope for. (College faculty)
I really like the new additions - the Ancestry database is great. The web resource sections are well chosen and save LOTS of my time in reference with library users. The tutorials are very good. (Public library staff)
GALILEO, as I have said before, is a great research tool for school libraries. I don't worry about students finding inappropriate sites. (K-12 staff)
The only thing that could possibly make it better is to simply expand the already great number of resources! (Undergraduate student)
In general I must say that I would not be able to complete my graduate degree without this service. I work during the day and I often have to travel out of town (as I am in California this week). With this service I can do most of my research from anytime (when the library would otherwise be closed) and from anywhere. (Graduate student)
Thank you for having Galileo. (Technical college student)
GALILEO is the best. (Public library user)
It is an important research tool particularly in small rural colleges like the one where I teach. (Two-year college faculty)
Last year, the dominant refrain in question 7 responses was "Simplify!" (30% 2000). The message, is the same this year and growing.
45% of the question 7 responses expressed the confusion and frustration users encounter when trying to negotiate the many choices on the GALILEO home page and menus. Here are some typical comments:
Keeping it very simple, as simple as possible. Believe it or not many of our students have not used computers that much and are lost when they sit down to one. (Technical college staff)
Change GALILEO back to the old version. (Undergraduate student)
There is way too much type on the front page of the GALILEO web site -- additionally, it is clinical and unattractive. (College faculty)
IT TAKES TOO *^$# MANY CLICKS TO GET TO THE INFO! (College faculty)
So much info and it's easy to get lost and knocked out of the site. (K-12 staff)
A significant number of GALILEO users feel the system is too complex to use easily.
36% of the comments related to the content of the resources that make up GALILEO. Some made general requests for more full-text; others mentioned topic areas they wanted expanded, such as literature or technology; and a few mentioned specific products, such as literary resources from Gale Research.
Implemented in July 2001, the new software environment that powers GALILEO, the Database of Online Resources (DOOR), has streamlined the behind-the-scenes maintenance and operation of GALILEO. Further development is underway to translate those gains into visible improvements in usability for the public.