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YALSA Membership Survey Results

A membership satisfaction survey was administered electronically April 22 through May 31, 2004, to 3,277 YALSA members. There were 306 responses, a 9.3% rate of return. The survey consisted of 16 values propositions , neutral statements about YALSA goods or services, that members were asked to rate separately on their perceptions of how important the item was to them as well as how well they thought YALSA was performing on that item.

The difference between the perceived importance and perceived performance of a proposition is an interval known as the ‘gap.’ The six highest gap scores for all YALSA responses have been provided in parentheses below with the corresponding tag. According to James G. Dalton, a management consultant to the nonprofit community, a gap greater than 1.0 on the 5.0 scale indicates the need for close strategic attention in that programmatic area. A gap of less than 1.0 but greater than zero indicates that the focus should remain on continuous improvement in that area; while a negative gap indicates that a program may require less attention and resources, or perhaps suggests that the program might be a candidate for "organized abandonment," both allowing for a reallocation of resources to more critical areas.

YALSA 2004 Member Survey Data Charts

• YALSA Value Propositions (PDF File*)
• Perception of YALSA Activities by Importance  
• Perception of YALSA Activities by Performance  
• Gap between Importance & Performance of YALSA Activities  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap and Performance

Data Charts: Number of Years as a YALSA Member

• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Peformance: YALSA Members 0-2 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Peformance: YALSA Members 3-5 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Peformance: YALSA Members 6-12 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Peformance: YALSA Members 13-19 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Peformance: YALSA Members 20+ Years  

• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YALSA Members 0-2 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YALSA Members 3-5 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YALSA Members 6-12 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YALSA Members 13-19 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YALSA Members 20+ Years  

Data Charts: Number of Years as a Young Adult Library Professional

• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance: YA Pro 0-2 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance: YA Pro 3-5 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance: YA Pro 6-12 Years 
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance: YA Pro 13-19 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Importance & Performance: YA Pro 20+ Years 

• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YA Pro 0-2 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YA Pro 3-5 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YA Pro 6-12 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YA Pro 13-19 Years  
• YALSA Activities Comparison of Gap & Importance: YA Pro 20+ Years   

Six Highest Gap Scores

Puts a national spotlight on the importance of teen reading. (Teen Read Week, Gap Score: 0.82)

Provides face-to-face opportunities to create connections with others interested in young adult library services. (Networking, Gap Score: 0.78)

Provides learning opportunities in a variety of formats that address the knowledge and training needs of library staff working with young adults. (Continuing Education, Gap Score: 0.77)

Publishes a newsletter that informs members about resources, services and activities of interest to those serving young adults in libraries. (Newsletter, Gap Score: 0.67)

Promotes and publishes research to improve and further advance the creation of a full range of library services for young adults in every library. (Research, Gap Score: 0.68)

Publishes a periodical that addresses the knowledge needs of library staff serving young adults. (Journal, Gap Score: 0.58)

The six largest gap scores echo the priorities that have emerged from discussion during the revision of YALSA’s strategic plan. The fact that this similarity exists between the newly emerging strategic plan and member perceptions helps insure cohesive focus as YALSA moves forward in the planning process.

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