A total of 41 participants attended the first course of the summer school. At the end of the week, everyone received a questionnaire. 40 questionnaires were returned. Participants spent a considerable amount of time on the evaluation. A lot of suggestions and comments were given, which were all very valuable for Ticer. We would like to express our gratitude for that!
The first course of the sixth International Summer School on the Digital Library was a success. All participants, except two, indicated they would recommend the summer school to colleagues in the field. 84% said the summer school was worth its money.
- "Very good programme - very useful framework for the work I will have to do."
- "The lectures were very dynamic, humorous and informative."
- "Very stimulating. I learnt a lot and certainly will put some of the ideas into practice."
- "All together the week was very good and useful. I also made good contacts with colleagues which I can use later on."
- "My overall impression of the course is that it deals with a very relevant and important topic in an inspiring way. I will go home with the feeling that change is not only necessary, but also possible, and that my own role in this is quite important. I also have elements of a theoretical framework to work within, and some practical tools to use. The course has changed me in a positive way. Perfect and professional arrangement! Thank you!"
- "The overall quality was very good, it felt carefully planned and delivered. I felt comfortable, well cared after. I felt you were all sincerely committed to get us to learn things we needed. "
- "Course documentation excellent."
- "Compliments for the organisation and I had a great time."
88% of the participants could discover the structure in the programme. 48% of the participants thought the programme was overfull and 61% thought the programme should give more opportunity for discussion. An imaginary case study was used throughout the programme to put the knowledge gained in practice. This case study approach was thought very useful by 85% of the participants. General suggestions on the programme were to pay even more attention to human resource management, strategic planning and the library environment.
In the evaluation, participants could rate a programme item 'extremely good', 'good', 'neutral', 'bad' or 'extremely bad'. With their ratings, we calculated a score from 0 to 5, with 5 being the maximum score. The average score was 4.0.
The following lectures were rated as the best. For privacy reasons, the lecturers are indicated by numbers which correspond with the numbers in the syllabus given to all participants and lecturers.
| Syllabus number | Score | Comments |
| 2 | 4.6 | excellent |
| 12 | 4.6 | very clear, very practical, brilliant |
| 11 | 4.3 | very clear, very much to the point |
| 10 | 4.3 | very good! |
The results of the evaluation are not a reason to change our promotion. All 'distribution channels' for information on the summer school worked satisfactory. 38% of the participants indicated that a colleague attended the summer school in one of the previous years. 28% of the participants received a paper brochure on the summer school via direct mail and 25% first learnt about the summer school on the Internet. Communication between Ticer and the participants was considered 'very good' to 'good' by 92% of the participants. The combination of e-mail and Ticer's web site to keep participants informed was considered 'very adequate' to 'adequate' by 90% of the participants.
Only 38% of the participants used the Tilburg University facilities to read their mail almost every day. Most of these participants agreed that they had plenty of opportunity to read their mail in the library. 45% of the participants found the computer facilities at the university 'excellent' or 'good'.
The quality of dinners was considered 'very good' to 'good' (2 neutral). 70% of the participants also thought the quality and duration of the lunches was 'very good' to 'good'. People had very differing opinions about the duration of the coffee breaks.
Of the 40 people who filled out the questionnaire, 22 stayed in a hotel near Tilburg University. Participants were very pleased with this hotel. The price quality ratio was considered 'perfect' or 'good' by all of them, except two (neutral). Only four participants did not find the hotel quiet but nobody would rather stay in a hotel in the city centre next time.
9 participants stayed at another hotel approximately 5 km from Tilburg University. They found the price quality ratio 'good', except three (neutral). Five participants thought the hotel was quit noisy but only one of them would rather stay in another hotel in the city centre next time.
Of the 40 people who filled out the questionnaire, 7 stayed in the student apartments. The price quality ratio of the student apartments was considered 'perfect' or 'good' by all participants. 3 participants indicated that the student apartments were clean, 2 were neutral about this and 1 participant indicated that the apartment was not clean. 3 people indicated they would stay there again a next time.
