Key findings from the CALL/ACBD Membership Survey

In April 2009, the CALL/ACBD Executive contracted with a consultant to help us survey the membership, as a preliminary step to a full Strategic Planning session.  We would like to share the results with you.  Many of the respondents took the time to give thoughtful and lengthy replies to the open ended survey questions.  The full results run some 45 pages, and are too long to share effectively.  The key findings are presented here in an abbreviated format.  The survey responses informed the Executive during the Strategic Planning workshop we held on May 23rd, and form the basis of the strategic plan we hope to circulate to the members in a few weeks.  We would like to thank everyone for taking the time to respond to the survey and look forward to your continued involvement and participation as we validate the Association’s strategic plan.

In summary:

• we had 160 responses in English and another 7 in French
• of the 167 responses, about 60 (36%) chose not to answer each of the questions
• we managed to get 9.3% of responses from individuals who have never been a member of CALL/ACBD
  of the members who responded, 40% have been members for more than 10 years and 38.5% for more than 15
• a third of the membership is interested or very interested in volunteering for the Association if a good match with their skills/interests can be found
• 73% of members are over 45 years old, only 6.7% are younger than 35

Question 1. Currently the purpose of the Association is to:
a) promote law librarianship, to develop and increase the usefulness of Canadian law libraries, and to foster a spirit of co-operation among them;
b) provide a forum for meetings of persons engaged or interested in law library work and to encourage professional self-development; and
c) co-operate with other organizations that promote the objects of the Association or the interests of its members.

Do you believe these statements continue to reflect the purpose of the Association?

Response to Question 1:
  Answered question: 167
  No 0
  Partially 26
  Yes 141
  Skipped question 0

• 84.4% indicated yes and the remaining 15.6% indicated partially
• many who indicated partially commented that execution (particularly with respect to promotion of law librarianship and cooperating with other organizations) was more the issue than the intention
• the two dimensions that seemed to be missing were:
    - an explicit statement of the intention to remain relevant/beneficial to the membership, and
    - advocacy regarding law library issues/interests

Question 2. How is the profession of law librarianship changing? What do you see as the emerging challenges and opportunities?
  Answered question: 109
  Skipped question: 58

Question 3. How is the workplace for law librarians changing?
  Answered question: 107
  Skipped question: 60

Responses to Questions 2 and 3:

• rapid evolution of technologies and explosion of information available in digital format – expectations for easy and more immediate access
• increasing end-user self sufficiency and sophistication - greater access to technologies and information by law practitioners – much of what they need is available via their personal computer – also results in decreasing direct contact with clients
• globalization – increasing complexity of issues, blurring of jurisdictional boundaries, increased ability to connect and share, greater interdisciplinarity
• challenging economic climate
• changing perceptions of the return on investment in library holdings, space and staff –investments being cut back
• growing potential of consortiums to expand access, contain costs and influence policy
• evolution of publisher and vender services – potential to by-pass the library
• increasing involvement of other disciplines in what has been library work
• challenges to attracting new professionals to the field
• opportunities abound in assisting with new forms of navigation through new forms of information
• changing scope of practice of law librarianship:
  -          traditional library work diminishing
  -          increased emphasis on online research
  -          blurring of roles with information/knowledge management and other disciplines
  -          new knowledge and competency requirements

Question 4.  How would you rate the value of current CALL/ACBD services?

Response to Question 4:
  Answered question:  117
  Skipped question:  50

• At least 80% of respondents valued or highly valued the following services:  Publications (90%), Statistics (87%), Collaborative/Networking Tools (86%), Conferences (84%), and Representation/Liaison (80%).
• At least 60% of respondents valued or highly valued the following services:  Committee Work (78%), Website (78%), Awards and Recognition (72%), Discounted Rates ((67%), National Office Services (60%). 
• Respondents who valued or highly valued the following services were relatively low:  Archives (43%), Research Databank (33%), Oral History Project (28%)
• suggested that unbundling services in the survey would have been helpful  e.g. difficult to score when some publications are of great value and others are of very little value
• There was some question about the return on investment of liaison activities with other associations

Question 5. What is your longer-term vision for CALL/ACBD? In five years...
- what roles could it be playing?
- what services could it be offering?
- what could it be known for?

Response to Question 5:
  Answered question: 84
  Skipped question: 83

• Overwhelmingly, continuing professional development topped the list.
• CALL would be known for the excellence of its conferences, offer regional workshops and opportunities for online webinars, training on new technologies, marketing, etc.
• CALL would be an advocate for law libraries – promote the value of law libraries and information professionals to employers
• CALL would lobby government on issues relevant to the membership
• Mentoring programs and promotion of the profession to newer members
• Improved website, job postings, networking opportunities through wikis, etc.
• CALL would advocate with vendors for improved relations, products and licences

Question 6. What do you believe should be the key priorities of the Association for the next five years?

Response to Question 6:
  Answered question: 80
  Skipped question: 87

• Continuing education, training, conferences and skills development on-line using e-learning, webcasts, certification against key competencies
• Recruitment, mentoring of newer professionals, outreach to new grads, expand and attract a diverse, younger demographic
• Advocacy, lobbying on behalf of the profession
• Promotion of law librarianship, communicating with members, sharing knowledge, networking, acting as the voice of the profession
• Improve website, interactive, redesign website, web 2.0 technologies
• Advocate with vendors, liaise with publishers, explain changing publishing industry to legal professionals, serials tracking
• Promote scholarship, research, consultation papers on law libraries, digital information, open access.

Question 7. In your opinion, what are the three greatest strengths of the Association?

Response to Question 7: 
  Answered question: 87
  Skipped question: 80

• annual conference, Canadian Law Libraries Review, CALL listserv
• continuing education
• provides mechanism for a unified national voice to express the concerns and pursue developments for the profession
• diverse, knowledgeable and dedicated members
• collaborative, collegial nature of the organization
• relevance to members
• effective forum for exchange of ideas and information
• creating a sense of community – reducing isolation
• effectively managed – fiscally and support of National Office

Question 8.  In your opinion, what are the three greatest challenges CALL/ACBD will need to address if it's to flourish?

Response to Question 8:
  Answered question: 80
  Skipped question: 87

• greying of the membership – need to attract younger members to join and step into leadership/committee roles and ensure programs appeal to all – manage the potential knowledge-loss as more experienced members retire
• relatively small in size – difficult to stage sophisticated learning, conferences and lobbies needed in these complex, budget-constrained times
• providing a truly national forum – bridging geographic, economic, cultural, linguistic and discipline differences
• expand continuing education offerings and improve access to them – on-line, regional
• website – needs to be more compelling and interactive
• membership fee structure presents a barrier to individual members

For more information on the CALL Members' Survey results, contact any member of the CALL/ACBD Executive Board.
 
Rosalie Fox
President, CALL/ACBD
Rosalie Fox, BA, MLS
Director | Directrice
Library | Bibliothèque
Supreme Court of Canada | Cour suprême du Canada
301 Wellington Street | 301, rue Wellington
Ottawa, Ontario K1A 0J1
Rosalie.Fox@scc-csc.gc.ca
Tel. | Tél. 613-996-9971 / Fax | Téléc. 613-952-2832