After careful assessment and approval by the Institutional Review Board, the Missouri State University Libraries’ market research and branding plan is underway. The project, spearheaded by the MSU Libraries marketing and communications team, seeks to enhance the ways in which we communicate with the university community and beyond.                   

Student-related market research initiatives are wrapping up, with nearly 600 current MSU students providing feedback in an 18-question online survey. Focus groups are also in the works. Both the survey and focus groups explore student perceptions of the MSU Libraries. Findings will help the marketing and communications team build an effective and high-impact branding strategy that resonates with this target audience. Feedback will also be used to enhance library resources, services, and spaces.

Faculty market research initiatives are kicking off as well, with the launch of a survey exclusively for this target audience. Like the student survey, the faculty survey seeks to explore faculty perceptions of academic libraries and gauge the frequency in which the library’s resources and services are utilized by faculty members. Survey findings will also help guide the library’s marketing and communications strategy in the coming months.

All MSU faculty members are invited to take the survey: msulib.me/facultysurvey

Questions about the University Libraries market research efforts may be directed to Laura French, marketing and communications specialist.