1998 PAM Division Planning Survey

Antoinette Beiser, Karen Croneis (chair), Gary Davidoff, Dorothy McGarry, Robert Michaelson

This web site highlights selected results from a survey of PAM members and friends conducted in February 1998 by the PAM Strategic Planning Committee. The survey results will be used to identify future directions and set priorities for the Division.

PART I -- Methodology and Response Rate

• 142 returned a completed survey (66%)
• 9 declined to participate (4%)
• 64 did not respond (30%).

The 70% response rate from the PAM membership is terrific!
Thanks to everyone who replied.

The survey also appeared on PAMNet. Friends of PAM returned a total of 12 surveys:

• 2 from members of SLA but not of PAM (17%), and
• 10 from those who are not members of either SLA or PAM (83%).

Of the 154 surveys returned by members and friends,

• 16 were faxed (10.4%)
• 96 were sent via the post office (62.3%)
• 42 were emailed (27.3%).

PART 2 -- Selected Results

• 49% of PAM members responding (69/142) either have or have had a leadership role in the Division (as an officer, roundtable facilitator, committee chair/member, with the Bulletin or PAMNet or PAM Web Site).
• Twenty four (24) members said they were not involved in leadership because they were new, haven't been asked, or don't know what was involved. (Lots of leadership potential!)

2. Conference Goers

80% of PAM members (104/142) reported attending at least one SLA Annual Conference in the past three years.

3. Ratings of Conference Programs

Note: Ratings for all conference programs were compiled for this question. For detailed information on the programs and their individual ratings, please go to the 1998 PAM Survey Results.

Rating	Per Cent
Great	27%
Good	59%
Great+Good	86%
So-So	14%
Poor	1%

4. Open Houses

Of those expressing a preference,

• 63% (55/88) preferred having 2 (two) open houses during the Annual Conference.
• Most respondents (43) said they were flexible regarding nights open houses are held.
• Sunday (40 replies) and Monday (25 replies) were favored by those indicating a specific night.

5. Evaluations of PAM Services

Service	Great	Good	Marginal	Poor	# Replies
PAMNet	67%	30%	3%	0%	138
PAM Web Site	21%	65%	13%	1%	106
Bulletin-Print	34%	55%	12%	0%	124
Bulletin-Online	42%	48%	10%	1%	84

6. PAM Practices

A. Conference Open House Expenditures
Is it preferable to spend the money we're currently expending for 3 open houses at the Annual Conference in another way? (106 replies)

• Definitely NO (i.e., keep spending money on 3 open houses) - 36%
• Definitely YES (i.e., spend money on something else) - 32%
• Possibly/probably reduce mumber of open house to reduce expenditures - 21%
• Not sure/don't know - 11%

B. Print and Electronic Versions of the PAM Bulletin
Is it preferable to have both print and electronic editions of the PAM Bulletin? (133 replies)

• Need both/retain both until everyone has electronic access - 74%
• Electronic only/Electronic OK - 25%
• Print only - 2%

7. As a librarian/information professional, what are the biggest challenges facing you today?

• "Keeping up" (60 mentions)
• Budgets/Costs of Journals (49 mentions)
• Time Pressures and Setting Priorities (individual) (30)
• User-related Issues (30)
• Electronic Environment With Options and Choices (28)
• Dealing with Hierarchy and Management Expectations (13)
• Keeping Skills Current/Professional Development (13)
• Change and Changing Roles (12)
• Management/Supervisory Issues and Concerns (7)
• Miscellaneous (7)
• Space and Facilities Issues (5)
• Finding/Keeping a Job (2)
• Automation/Migration in My Own Library (2)

8. What can the PAM Division do to help you meet those challenges?

• Have Dynamic Programming at Annual Conference (35)
• Communicate Information about Resources and Services (23)
• Communications with Vendors and Publishers (23)
• Continue PAMnet (22)
• Continuing Education (13)
• Networking/Information Sharing (13)
• Don't know/not sure (12)
• Continue PAM Web Site (7)
• Doing A Good Job; Keep It Up (6)
• Collaborate/Work with Others (6)
• Mentoring (5)
• Initiatives to Deal with Journal Situation (5)
• Miscellaneous (5)

9. Possible Activities of the PAM Division

NOTE: In the table below the first three columns (PAM, FR, ALL) reflect the total mentions, regardless of ranking. The last column (Ave.) is the weighted average of ranks 1-5 only.

PAM	FR	ALL	Ave.	Reply
109	9	118	1.89	Increase communications and networking among members
102	4	106	2.45	Plan focused, dynamic programming at the Annual Conference
100	9	109	2.81	Strengthen liaison relationships with vendors, publishers, etc.
80	10	90	3.48	Sponsor continuing education courses
78	5	83	3.16	Provide mentoring in the subject areas of the Division
46	2	48	3.81	Represent members at Association Cabinet and other SLA meetings
40	1	41	3.83	Recruit new members to the division
36	3	39	3.96	Encourage library/information science students to work in physics-astronomy-mathematics organizations
36	3	39	3.30	Increase participation of international members
34	4	42	3.54	Provide leadership training for members

* Other

• PAM - 8 responses
  • All PAM members, including minorities, should be given the chance to be officers -- 1
  • Regular updates on astronomical database awareness -- 1
  • Sponsor PAM-relevant research -- 1
  • Represent members on a political level -- 1
  • Encourage mentoring -- 1
  • PAM Division services such as the Union List and the Astronomy Thesaurus -- 1
  • Provide means of professional development via committees -- 1
  • Provide current professional news via PAMnet, Bulletin, etc. -- 1
• Friends - 2 responses
  • Offer continuing education courses at conferences -- 1
  • Reviews or announcements of Web resources -- 1

Creator: Karen S. Croneis.

Page last updated: August 27, 1998