Pre Library Orientation Information Competency Questionnaire

The purpose of this survey is to make a quick assessment of your comfort level in using the various resources at Long Beach City College libraries as well as other adjacent libraries. Your candid response will help us design our library orientations better and cater to the specific learning needs and pedagogical tools required to make you a competent life-long learner.

* Required

Please select what library class you are taking. * Select what library class you are taking from the list below.

1) What home computer access do you have, or expect to have, during this school year? *

My own computer
A computer shared with others
No home computer
Other:

2) Your e-mail or Internet access is, or will be, through: *

A. My home Internet connection
B. Library computers and Research Center Computer labs
C. Both A and B
D. I don’t have e-mail yet

3) Do you feel that you know a lot about how to use Long Beach City College library’s information resources (both print resources and electronic resources)? *

A. I know a lot about the library’s information resources
B. I know a little about the library’s information resources
C. I know very little about the library’s information resources.

4) How comfortable or skilled do you feel in being able to locate high-quality information resources in the library for any given assignment? *

A. Very comfortable/very skilled
B. Somewhat comfortable/somewhat skilled
C. Not very comfortable/not very skilled

5) In the library I have used the computer: Circle all that apply: *

A. To look up books by author or title
B. To do subject searches for books
C. To find magazine/journal articles
D. To find newspaper articles

6) Have you used library databases to find journal articles? * Please specify which database(s) have you used in the "other" field

A. No
B. Yes
Other:

Special Research Sources

7) College libraries have special research sources, and use special terminology which you will need to be aware of and use for assignments. Check the box by the description that fits your knowledge about that library source or terms.

A. Reference books *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

B. Periodicals *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

C. Encyclopedias *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

D. Reserve collection *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

E. Online Catalog (OPAC) *

Have Used this
Heard of this
Never Heard of this
Not Sure of Use

F. Indexes *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

G. Abstract *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

H. Archives *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

I. Open stacks *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

J. Closed stacks *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

K. Maps or Atlases *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

L. Online Databases for research *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

M. Statistical records *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

N. Picture files *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

O. Almanacs *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

P. Full-text documents/articles *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

Q. Primary sources *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

R. Secondary sources *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

S. Bibliographies *

Have Used These
Heard of These
Never Heard of These
Not Sure of Use

Writing Experiences

9) In your previous research or writing assignments, how did you keep track of information you found? * Check all that apply:

A. Kept note cards
B. Used a notebook
C. Saved notes on my flash drive
D. Photocopied and saved pages (from books, magazines, etc.)
E. Used highlighting or underlining to mark important text
F. Jotted notes on scrap paper
G. E-mailed information to myself
H. Memorized stuff I read or discovered
Other:

Thank You!

The information will help us determine your college preparedness and enable us to empower you to become life-long learners!