Library Study - Please help!

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If the moderators do not wish for me to post this, please let me know ASAP.

I have a 20 page paper due on Tuesday. Long story short, it snowed and well, I'd rather create a new topic than have to take an incomplete. If ANYONE is willing to help, it'd be much appreciated (if you a parent of a child on the autistic spectrum, a person with autism/asperger's, etc, I don't care - I need around 10-20 people I'm thinking)! How can you help? By filling out the one page survey! I was thinking of writing my paper on autistics and their information needs and some how connect that with library reference service and public libraries and how technology has changed both.

Public Library Survey

Demographics

1. First name or pseudonym:

2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other

3. Age?

4. Location:

5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis?

6. What form of autism?

User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
a. Yes
b. No

1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not?
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).

1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not?
b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library?

2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)

3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?


4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)

5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)

6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?

As per usual, all response will be kept private/confidential and names changed. The only people reading this survey are me and my professors for this class. You may PM me or e-mail me at [email protected] if you do not want to post to the board. Suggestions are welcomed. Um, I think that covers it.

Thank you!

- Serenity

What the heck, I'll Bite:

Male
40-50
Midwest
Self Diagnosed
Aspergers

I DID visit the library before the internet opened up, when needed.
I visited an average of once a week.
They were ok.
Materials varied upon need.

I go to the Library, Internet, available people that would know.

I probably look at autism info almost every day.

I found out about autism in another forum.

Technology allows everyone to do quick research, and communicate quickly and well.

1. First name or pseudonym: Belle

2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other

3. Age? 30

4. Location: Arizona

5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis? (Currently working on getting an official diagnosis)

6. What form of autism? AS

User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
a. Yes
b. No

1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not?
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).

1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not? I get all the information I need from the Internet or from books that I purchase on the Internet.
b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library? I prefer not to leave my house.

2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)

3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)? Every day

4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)

5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)

6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness? The Internet has made information much more accessible. You just have to watch out for non-credible sources of information.

KaliMa
Female
46 years old
Boston, MA
Self-Diagnosed
AS
No, I don't visit the library anymore
I use the Internet
MS prevents me from leaving my home, and I before I had MS I preferred to be able to access info 24/7 without needing to leave home.
Internet
I get info on autism every day, if only from other posters on WP
I use the web and books I buy on the web for my info needs
I learned about autism on the internet
The internet has made info much more convenient and available to everybody. More people will be aware of autism due to the internet.

Good luck on your paper!

I have sent my survey responses via email.

Public Library Survey

Demographics

1. First name or pseudonym:
IsThatAFact

2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other
Male

3. Age?
50

4. Location:
Victoria Australia

5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis?
Official

6. What form of autism?
Asperger’s

User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
No (well I visit University libraries a lot – depends what you call a public library)

1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
(University Libraries >20 times year)

b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not?
Yes if refering to university library

c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).
Books (technical), journals

1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not?
They do not carry many suitable texts

b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library?
Lack suitable materials for my areas of interest, plus it is more comfortable to use the Internet and order books online.

2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
bcd - all three why would you limited information sources, I could add in bookshops as well

3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?
A lot lately because I am recently diagnosed, so 3-4 times a week

4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
bcd – strongest preference is from purchased books but they are not listed as am option.

5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)
d – health professional - I did not really know much about Asperger’s before diagnosis! Since diagnosis – everywhere I can

6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?
The Internet will change how we all communicate and the breadth and diversity of that communication. Information and hopefully knowledge will be more readily available to a wider range of people; the downside that occurs at the moment is the amount of poor information and a propensity for urban myths and factoids to become ‘facts’. Another possible issue is people’s ability to sort creditable facts from all the information.

The speed of information spread has potentially some interesting positive influences, for example, academic papers used to posted to editors, posted to reviewers, sent to printers and the journals distributed by mail, now the whole process is undertaken electronically and information is available much sooner.

Thank you!! !

- Serenity

I work at an acedemic library. I would appreciate it very much if you would forward your results, analysis and conclusions to me. I may share with library administration.

1. First name or pseudonym:
Jake

2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other
Male... what others are there?

3. Age?
20

4. Location:
Michigan

5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis?
SD

6. What form of autism?
Asperger Syndrome

User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
a. Yes
b. No
No I don't.

1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not?
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).


1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not?
b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library?
I get a lot done on the internet at home... easier and faster.

2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
Internet

3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?
A lot lately... in the last three or four weeks, I've read a book, visited two message boards, read several articles, took two tests

4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
Internet

5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)
I found out about Asperger Syndrome from a friend, though autism I've known about for a little longer, never really knowing what it was though

6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?
It's given us a lot of insight into the workings of our brains, and hopefully we'll find out enough about neurobiology to allow for proper correction of deficiencies.

Once my paper is completed, I will post it to this board and will be more than happy to show my results. However, I might not be graded for a few more weeks.

- Serenity

Looks like you're still a few people short, so if you can use someone with NLD (nonverbal learning disorder):

Public Library Survey

Demographics

1. First name or pseudonym:
LostInSpace


2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other
Female


3. Age?
23


4. Location:
State College, Pennsylvania


5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis?
Official diagnosis


6. What form of autism?
Nonverbal learning disorder (similar to AS, exact relationship is currently being debated)


User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
a. Yes
b. No
Yes


1. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not?
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).
at school- every few weeks
at home- every week

yes, my needs are satisfactorily met- although it stinks having to wait for inter-library loan sometimes

at school- academic materials (textbooks, dissertations, journals, etc.)
at home- fiction books, sometimes movies


1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not?
b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library?


2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
public library, academic library, and Internet


3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?
several times a week



4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
academic library (mostly through inter-library loan) and Internet


5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)
My parents are psychologists, so I've known about autism and AS forever


6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?
More people with autism are able to connect to each other online and coordinate projects to promote awareness. Also, many people with autism are whizzes with technology and end up achieving things which bring them renown. Additionally, there is so much information about autism on the Internet (some of it reliable) that the lay person has much greater access to it.

1. First name or pseudonym:
Duncansbass
2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other
Male
3. Age?
39
4. Location:
Phoenix, Arizona
5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis?
Professional diagnosis
6. What form of autism?
Asperger's
User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
Yes
1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library?
At least once a month
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met?
Yes
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library). Anything on the history of what my 'interests' are: i.e. blues music, jazz music, baseball, football, and anything else that crosses my radar screen
2. Where do you go for your information needs?
Library, internet, not necessarily in that order
3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?
All the time
4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
Internet, although I will investigate the library
5. How did you find out about autism?
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?
By making it accessible to the up and coming generations who are more comfortable with the internet than the library
7. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?
Dude, as it is WAY too hard to improve on SinsBoldly's answer, I'll just direct you to my answer to the previous question.

1. First name or pseudonym: Kim

2. Are you: 1. Male or 2. Female or 3. Other

3. Age? 28

4. Location: San Antonio, TX

5. Self-Diagnosed or Official Diagnosis? Official

6. What form of autism? Asperger's Syndrome

User Behavior
1. Do you visit the public library for your information needs?
a. Yes
b. No

1a. If you answered “Yes” in Question 1, please answering the follow:
a. How often do you visit the public library? about once a month
b. Are your information needs satisfactorily met? If not, why not? My information needs are usually met.
c. What materials do you check out at the public library (in other words, why do you go to the public library).
I check out nonfiction books about music and animals.

1b. If you answered “No” in Question 1, please answer the following?
a. Why not?
b. What barriers prevent you from visiting the public library?

2. Where do you go for your information needs?
a. Public Library Yes
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library) Yes
c. Internet Yes
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional) Yes

3. How often do you search for information about autism (estimations are acceptable)?
Every couple of weeks or so, but I've only looked for autism info at the library once or twice.

4. Where do you prefer to find your information about autism?
a. Public Library Sometimes
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library) No
c. Internet Yes
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional) No

5. How did you find out about autism?
a. Public Library Yes
b. Other public institution or other type of library (i.e. academic library)
c. Internet
d. Another person (i.e. family member, friend, significant other, health professional)
e. Newspaper
f. Television (e.g. news channel, document)

6. How do you think technology has changed (or will change) autism awareness?

I would like to see the creation of a digital library devoted to the autism spectrum. I think that the Internet is making more information available to more people. Unfortunately, the web contains a lot of inaccurate information. Libraries carefully select materials that are "authoritative" (=cite plenty of sources for their information). Digital libraries are the best of both worlds. They provide authoritative information through the web. Unfortunately, a lot of people don't know about these resources. Similarly, many people over-estimate the accuracy of information on the web. Therefore, the Internet is probably perpetuating more myths about autism than spreading information with a more factual basis. Increased awareness of digital libraries and the creation of an ASD DL could change this.