One of the ways we inform and enhance library provision is by analysing and evaluating relevant feedback.
We use data from module evaluations (internal to BGU, collected towards the end of each semester), the National Student Survey (a national, annual survey open to final year undergraduates) and the BGU Student Satisfaction Survey (an internal, annual survey, open to all BGU students), as well as informal feedback gathered at the Library's Service Desk and two Enquiry Desks.
Each year we publish a formal response to the two student surveys mentioned above, the most recent of which can be found below.
The Library is given a budget each year by the University. The following describes how it is divided up. It does not include staffing.
About a third of our budget is spent on print books and e-books.
About a fifth of our budget is spent on journals and another fifth on databases. The cost of these can vary enormously - from just a few pounds to many thousands of pounds each.
About a tenth of our budget is spent on technical support contracts: boring but necessary, these ensure there’s always someone on hand to quickly sort out technical problems if they occur (big things like our library computer system and little things like our till).
The remainder of our budget is spent on things publicity and promotion (promoting our services to the BGU community – particularly printing and design costs), document supply (mainly for inter-library loans; we subsidise the cost of this service), and stationery, furniture and equipment (from pens to barcode scanners to book trolleys to spine labels!).