How a Survey’s Circumstances Can Influence Its Length Situation 1: The local library wants to be sure that it continues to meet the needs of a changing community. In recent years, many more of its...

How a Survey’s Circumstances Can Influence Its Length Situation 1: The local library wants to be sure that it continues to meet the needs of a changing community. In recent years, many more of its patrons are more than 65 years of age and a substantial percentage speaks English as a second language. Among the library’s concerns are the adequacy and relevance of their exhibits, newspapers, magazines, and other periodicals; programs featuring new books and writers; and special-interest collections concerned with issues such as health. A bilingual volunteer will be devoting two mornings and one afternoon a week for 8 weeks to a 45-minute face-to-face interview with users of the library. A 50-item survey form has been designed for the purpose. Situation 2: The neighborhood library also wants to be sure that its services are appropriate for a population that is increasingly older and non-English speaking. The city has decided that the neighborhood library is not the only library in the city that is changing in its needs and has agreed to sponsor a survey of its library patrons. To minimize the amount of time that librarians and patrons will have to spend on the survey, a 10-minute, 6-item, self-administered questionnaire is prepared by the central library office. Four questions are asked about the adequacy of the library’s collection of books and magazines, computer access, and special-interest collections; and two questions ask about the respondent’s educational background and income. To facilitate the survey’s efficiency, questionnaires are obtainable at the checkout desk, completed at the library, and left with the local branch librarian who then sends them to the central office for analysis.