Website Maintained by:
Communication Chair
©1998, SLA WCC

Thank you to all members who replied to the SLA Western Canada Chapter Survey. We had a good rate of return and are still in the process of conducting an analysis so we can better serve you. The following is an overview of the Communications Section of the survey. More analysis on this and the Programming section will be available in the Summer issue of Wired West.

Respondents: 46 (Vancouver), 4 (Victoria), 16 (Calgary), 12 (Edmonton), 8 (Winnipeg), 3 (Regina) = Total 89

1. Type of communication vehicle do you prefer for general chapter announcements?
   53 - e-mail ; 29 - listserv; 7 - regular mail or web site; 6 - fax

   E-mail/listserv was evenly split for Vancouver, but the other areas preferred e-mail to listserv, a few people checked both e-mail and listserv

2. What type of communication vehicle do you prefer for the official chapter publication?
   38 - regular mail; 36 - web site; 15 - listserv; 4 - fax

   A few noted that if we publish on web site, they would want an announcement of its availability via e-mail or listserv.

3. If publication only available on the web site, how frequently would you read it?
   37 would read 50-75% of the time
   28 would read 80%+
   14 would Not Read,    7 just checked spot.

   If including 7 checks with not read, then 21 would not read. Good sign as the majority would read it at least half the time. (Of course we didn’t ask how many would read a print version) and that includes those respondents who may not have access to a web browser.

4. What type of official chapter publication do you prefer? (check one)
   42 – Bulletin, scholarly articles and regular columns combined
   39 – Bulletin with program informaiton, capsule news and brief articles
   Other choices had 3-7 checks

5. What topics/issues are of most interest to you? (could choose more than one)
   76 – Information technology
   73 – Hot trends (a comment stating that our example of KM was no longer a hot trend)
   60 – Management
   47 – Programme news
   42 – Employment
   29 – Member news

   I had thought people would be interested in Member news, but the reaction was luke warm at best. I did have a couple of comments that said they preferred professional "news" as opposed to personal news such as baby announcements.

6. What content do you want on the chapter website (could choose more than one)
   72 – Programming
   70 – Executive contact information
   62 – Employment info.
   60 – Member information
   58 – Official bulletin
   42 FAQ

   One suggested links which I know are already available on the SOLO Division website , I will try to add info to that effect on the Related Links page.

   The 58 saying the bulletin is an interesting figure compared to the 36 who wanted it on the web site (#2) and 28 who would read it 80%+ of the time (#3). Almost covers the 65 who would read it 50% of the time or more (#3)

7. Do you belong to the chapter listserv? (yes/no - why) 59 respondents belong 29 do not belong

A couple of comments, since posting messages to VOLUG and since the survey, the number of new subscribers to the listserv has increased (about 4 new ones a week)

Thank you again for your participation!
It is never too late to send in your comments or suggestions,
Patricia Cia