11 Survey Questions and Responses The SPEC Survey on Library Development was designed by Brian W. Keith, Associate Dean for Administrative Services and Faculty Affairs, at the George A. Smathers Libraries, University of Florida Joseph A. Salem, Jr., Associate Dean for Learning, Undergraduate Services and Commonwealth Campus Libraries, at Pennsylvania State University and Kurt Cumiskey, Associate Director of Development, at Duke University Libraries. These results are based on responses from 60 of the 125 ARL member libraries (48%) by the deadline of March 29, 2018. The survey’s introductory text and questions are reproduced below, followed by the response data and selected comments from the respondents. Senior library administrators continue to assess their organization’s commitment to and capacity for development, and the efficacy of their efforts. The role of library fundraising and the related need for libraries to foster stakeholder and advocacy relationships has changed and expanded over time, and has become even more critical fiscally, strategically, and organizationally. Additionally, the role of metrics and performance indicators in communicating library value and performance to stakeholders, which will be touched on in this survey, is a particularly timely topic as it is part of the national dialogue among library leaders. Industry wide assessments of practices and policies, resources and measures for library development are limited. The most recent SPEC survey on library development topic was published in 2006 (SPEC Kit 297: Library Development). That study was completed prior to the Great Recession, which lasted from 2007 to 2009, and was the longest recession since World War II. During that period, the demand for enrollment in higher education increased, while budget situations of public colleges and universities eroded dramatically with a decline in state support. Both public and private institutions were impacted by the drop in endowment values and reduced donor support. Following the recession, fundraising continued to be a challenge, but as the recovery persisted outcomes improved. Given the importance of library development and the continuing change in higher education and research libraries, this topic needs to be revisited. The purpose of this study is to better understand the supporting structures and resources (personnel, financial, and material) and the activities and expectations associated with library development (fundraising and friendraising) efforts. This survey retains some elements of the 2006 study for longitudinal comparison of the pre-recession environment and the current, post-recession environment, and includes new elements to more broadly depict the current role of library development, including friendraising (efforts intended to generate committed and supportive relationships with outside parties and entities), communication to stakeholders of library value added, and stories and/or descriptive measures provided in these communication efforts. The survey also examines the role of advisory boards
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