Here are some of the best questions for a student survey about library services, plus tips on designing them for real engagement. You can generate your own survey using Specific in seconds.
Best open-ended questions for student survey about library services
If you want to dig deep and capture genuine insights from students, open-ended questions are essential. They let students share their stories, frustrations, or suggestions without being boxed in by pre-selected answers. These questions work wonders for discovering pain points or unexpected ideas and are especially powerful when paired with AI-powered follow-ups that probe for context.
What do you value most about our library’s services?
Can you describe a recent experience you had in the library that stood out to you?
What could we improve to make using the library more helpful for you as a student?
How well do the current library resources support your studies?
Is there a library service you wish existed, but currently doesn’t?
What challenges do you face when you’re trying to find resources or information in the library?
How does the library space itself impact your learning or studying routine?
If you use digital library tools or databases, what do you like or dislike about them?
Can you share a time when a librarian or staff member made a difference in your experience?
What would encourage you to use the library services more often?
Open-ended questions like these not only uncover what’s working or not, but also generate actionable feedback for library improvements. We’ve seen that first-generation college students particularly value physical spaces and access/discovery—addressing topics like these helps ensure library services are inclusive and relevant for everyone. [2]
Best single-select multiple-choice questions for student survey about library services
Single-select multiple-choice questions shine when you want to quantify opinions or identify trends fast. They’re less taxing for the respondent—perfect if you want to start a conversation without overwhelming them. Once you have the lay of the land, you can drill down with targeted follow-up prompts.
Examples:
Question: How often do you visit the library (physically or online)?
Daily
Weekly
Monthly
Rarely
Question: Which library service do you use most often?
Book lending
Study spaces
Digital resources (databases, e-books)
Workshops or events
Other
Question: How satisfied are you with the availability of study spaces in the library?
Very satisfied
Satisfied
Neutral
Dissatisfied
Very dissatisfied
When to followup with "why?" Asking “why?” after a response brings out the story behind the choice. For example, if a student selects “Dissatisfied” with study spaces, the follow-up “Can you explain what issues you’ve experienced with our study spaces?” opens the door to actionable feedback. AI-powered surveys excel here by automatically and contextually prompting for clarification when needed, which research shows boosts completion and data quality. [1]
When and why to add the "Other" choice? Always consider adding “Other” for questions where your options might not capture every experience. The follow-up can then ask, “What other services do you use?” to spot unexpected patterns or unmet needs you might never have thought to ask about.
Should you include an NPS question for library services?
The Net Promoter Score (NPS) question is a proven way to gauge overall student sentiment toward the library. It asks, “How likely are you to recommend our library services to a friend or classmate?” Respondents rate from 0 (not at all likely) to 10 (extremely likely). This single metric gives you a pulse on satisfaction and loyalty, making it an easy benchmark to track over time. NPS works beautifully in this context because student sentiment can guide service improvements— especially when paired with follow-ups asking why they gave that score. Try an NPS survey for students about library services here.
The power of follow-up questions
Smart, tailored follow-ups transform a good survey into an amazing one. If you haven’t already, read our guide on automatic AI follow-up questions—it dives deep into how this works in practice. When you integrate purposeful follow-ups, surveys become dynamic conversations that surface the “why” behind every answer. This approach seriously boosts both data quality and respondent engagement. Traditional surveys struggle here: 60% of people report feeling survey fatigue, and up to 45% bail out completely in the absence of engaging or contextual follow-ups. [3]
Student: “The digital catalog is frustrating.”
AI follow-up: “What specifically frustrates you about the digital catalog? Is it hard to search, or do you have trouble accessing materials?”
How many followups to ask? Usually, 2–3 follow-ups are ideal per answer, with a safety net that lets respondents skip if they’ve shared enough. In Specific, you have full control over this setting: you can go deep, or move on once you get the needed info.
This makes it a conversational survey: The respondent feels like they’re chatting with a knowledgeable librarian—not just filling a boring form. That’s the magic of conversational surveys.
AI analysis, qualitative insights, response themes: Despite the flood of nuanced, open-ended feedback, it’s surprisingly easy to analyze all this input with AI (read how here). You don’t need to read every word—AI can instantly categorize, summarize, and highlight what matters for real action.
Automated AI follow-ups are a whole new world—perfect for anyone who’s tired of tracking down incomplete responses. Generate a survey and watch how much deeper your insights go.
How to prompt ChatGPT to generate the best library services survey questions
For those who want to craft their own surveys using LLMs: a good prompt is half the battle. Here’s a baseline:
Suggest 10 open-ended questions for student survey about library services.
The more context you provide, the better the questions. If you’d like tailored results, expand your prompt:
I work at a university library. Our goal is to improve library services for first-year undergraduates and online students, focusing on both digital resources and in-person spaces. Suggest 10 open-ended questions to capture student experiences and suggestions for improvement.
After generating initial questions, refine further:
Look at the questions and categorize them. Output categories with the questions under them.
Once you have identified categories you want to prioritize—such as “study spaces” or “digital resources”—dig deeper:
Generate 10 questions for categories study spaces and digital resources.
What is a conversational survey?
A conversational survey is a dynamic chat with your respondents, powered by AI that adapts in real time, asks clarifying follow-ups, and keeps users engaged. Unlike traditional static forms, conversational surveys naturally prompt for more detail and clarify ambiguous responses, leading to richer, more actionable insights.
Let’s break that down:
Feels like a natural back-and-forth, not a cold interrogation
Respondents are more willing to open up when the questions “listen” and adapt
Completion rates soar—AI-powered surveys achieve 70-80% completion, as opposed to traditional rates of 45-50%—proof that this method works [1]
Ideal for student feedback and library improvement initiatives where nuance matters
Manual Survey Creation | AI-Generated Survey (Conversational) |
|---|---|
Manual copy/paste, brainstorming, error-prone | Instant survey generation, expert-backed by AI |
Static forms, fixed choices, little flexibility | Adaptive, real-time follow-ups, organic conversation |
Low engagement, easy to abandon | High engagement, higher completion rates |
Analyzing written responses is laborious | AI summarizes and categorizes for easy insight |
Why use AI for student surveys? Because student experiences are diverse and unique—AI-driven, conversational formats keep engagement high, limit fatigue, and surface feedback that’s actually useful to staff and librarians. See a practical AI survey example for library services for students or use the AI survey generator to experiment with your own topics. For practical steps, our guide on how to create a student survey about library services can walk you through it.
Specific specializes in this user-friendly, adaptive approach—we’re committed to offering the smoothest, most insightful conversational feedback experience for both creators and students.
See this library services survey example now
Ready to see what transforms simple feedback into actionable insight? Get started with a truly conversational survey that uncovers what students really need and want from their library. Experience how fast, natural, and impactful it can be—no more guesswork, just smarter decisions.