REPORT TO THE REFERENCE ROUND TABLE
EXECUTIVE BOARD

MEMBERSHIP SURVEY
1992-93

RICHARD DICKEY, CHAIR
LINDA NEWSOME-DILLARD
RUTH M. STILES

SURVEY FOR REFERENCE ROUND TABLE

The Reference Round Table needs your help in finding out more about 
our membership and how to best improve our organization.  Please 
fill out this survey and return to RICHARD DICKEY, 920 Sierra Dr., 
Denton, TX 76201.  ****THANK YOU****

1.    How long have you been a member of TLA?

	a.  less than one year	c. 6-10 years
	b.  1-5 years		d. 11+ years

2.    How long have you been a member of RRT?

	a.  less than one year	c. 6-10 years
	b.  1-5 years		d. 11+ years

3.    What were your reasons for joining RRT? (mark all that apply)
		
	a.  To learn about professional issues and concerns
	b.  Networking/career advancement opportunities 
	c.  Continuing education
	d.  To gain experience as an officer or committee member
	e.  To share knowledge with others
	f.   Other

4.    What other TLA round tables do you currently belong to?

5.    What type of library do you work for?

	a. School            b. Public           c. Academic
	d. Special   (if so, what type?

6.    Which department do you work for?

	a. Public Services		b. Technical Services
	c. Administrative		d. Other

7.    What improvements would you like to see concerning RRT?

8.    What types of programs would you like to see presented?


(optional) NAME:

ADDRESS:						PHONE:



RESULTS:

Results:

35 total responses (excluding 1 which was sent in "blank").

Range of cities of origination:

Allen
Amarillo
Austin
Beaumont
Corpus Christi
Houston
Irving
Jacksonville
Kingsville
League City
Lewisville
San Antonio
Tyler
Victoria
Waco


1.	How long have you been a member of TLA?

a.	less than one year (0)
b.	1-5 years (15)*
c.	6-10 years (10)
d.	11+ years (10

2.	How long have you been a member of RRT?

a.	less than one year (6)
b.	1-5 years (18)*
c.	6-10 years (5)
d.	11+ years (6)

3.	What were your reasons for joining RRT?

a.	(33)*
b.	(16)
c.	(27)*
d.	(10)
e.	(14)
f.	"to exchange ideas and programs"

4.	What other TLA round tables do you currently belong to?

Arranged by number of responses:

New Members Round Table (4)
Government Documents Round Table (3)
Administration Round Table (2)
Automation and Technology Round Table (2)
Interlibrary Loan Round Table (2)
Library Instruction Interest Group (2)
Acquisitions and Collection Development Round Table (1)
Children's Round Table (1)

5.	What type of library do you work for?

a.	School (2)
b.	Public (10)
c.	Academic (20)*
d.	Special (1): "Texas Legislative Reference"
e.	(1) student

*	one did not respond to this question.

6.	Which department do you work for?

a.	Public Services (31)*
b.	Technical Services (3)
c.	Administrative (5)
d.	other: (1) "User Education"

* a comment "This expression reflects bias on your part toward 
large libraries". (In other words: It is possible to work for all 
of the above in a small library)

7.	What improvements would you like to see concerning RRT?

1)	"More substantive articles in newsletter" and "Cut down on
		organizational news".

2)	"More newsletters, since I don't get to attend conferences".

3)	 "A strong emphasis on trying yo entice more reference librarians
		to choose membership in TLA and RRT."

4)	"More representation from small and medium-sized libraries".

5)	"None.  It's great!"

6)	"Production of additional scholarly publications like Texas
		Reference Sources."

7)	"Your publications are self-serving.  They contain no information
		that helps me do my job better".

8)	"A 'meet & greet' at TLA--maybe a lunch after the RRT program or 
		a short refreshment session before (i.e. a stand-up buffet)".

9)	The student wondered if she, as a future public librarian, will
		fit into the Reference Round Table.

8. 	Program ideas:

There were (2) requests for the topic of "bibliographic instruction".

The topic of "the reference interview" was mentioned (3) times, 
plus:

1)	International patrons.
2)	Faculty/Library relations.
3)	"I have enjoyed all your programs".
4)	Practical--take it home and use it the next day.
7)	How to do MARC records.
8)	Writing user guides for electronic sources, LAN's especially.
9)	How to cope with a vastly fluctuating reference department.

10)	Training and promoting uniform services from all members in an 
	academic reference department.

11)	"Continue to foster a varied agenda of programs, i.e. new
	reference tools, the reference interview, ILL updates, better 
	cooperation between reference departments and others in the 
	library."

12)	Relationship between reference desk and the Internet.

13)	"Provision of library services to satellite campuses in other
	towns".

14)	Updating skills.

15)	"Effective collection development/management in an era of 
	fiscal constraints".

16)	"Practical, not theoretical: informal, regional idea-exchange
	on reference sources (i.e. a REAL round table).

17)	ADA reference and training staff.

18)	Problem patrons.

19)	"Anything towards better serving the patron within budget 
	constraints".

20) 	More programs such as specialized collection.

21)	"Basic issues affecting reference personnel within the first
	two years of their first position. (i.e. the reference 
	interview, answering questions with slender resources, inter-
	library cooperation, networks)."

* One retiree commented that the "survey was well-prepared".

Copyright ©2002, Reference Round Table, TLA
Send comments and suggestons to: Carol S. Byrne, cbyrne@uta.edu
Last Modified: April 2002