Library Survey Consultants

Before undertaking a focus group project, work with the moderator to identify the sessions' purpose, key discussion areas and the decisions to be made based upon the research.

Example 1:

Purpose of Sessions: To understand how the community reacts to ideas for new services

Roving Reference
e-newsletters
Chat reference
Downloadable videos and e-books

Key Discussion Areas:

The discussion will focus how patrons might use these services, how they change patrons perceptions of the library and what resistance, if any, patrons may have toward these ideas.

Decisions to made based upon the research:

The library will use this stud decide whether to purse or modify these services and how to market them to the community.

Example 2:

Purpose of Sessions: To understand how teens currently use and want to use the library:

Key Discussion Areas:

Teens' perceptions of libraries
How teens use the library
What roles the public and school libraries fulfill for them
Barriers to teens using public and school libraries
Reactions to proposed new teen services

Decisions to made based upon the research:

What new services to offer to teens, and how to best market them

Return to Focus Group Tips page.