Survey – Canadian Public Library Pandemic Response: Bridging the Digital Divide

November 11, 2021

We are conducting a study to understand the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on computer and Internet access services at public libraries in Canada. This study is a research collaboration between the University of Ottawa Library, Library and Archives Canada, and Ottawa Public Library.

Participants in this survey must currently be working at a public library in Canada in any position including library technician, librarian, member of library board and management and others. Moreover, this survey allows unlimited numbers of respondents from the same organization.

In this bilingual online survey found at https://www.surveymonkey.ca/r/NQJCY83, you will be asked questions related to librarians and library technicians’ professional experience regarding the impacts of COVID-19 pandemic as well as personal opinions on how public libraries in Canada could address digital divide issues to encourage equal access to computer and Internet services in the post-pandemic era.

Importantly, no personally identifiable information will be shown in presentations or publications generated from this research. You do not have to answer the questions that you do not want to answer. You can decide to end or withdraw from the online survey at any time you wish. Your participation in this study is completely voluntary. Participants who withdraw from the study will be given the option of also withdrawing their data.

Your participation is strictly confidential. Documents and files will be stored in the University of Ottawa’s Microsoft OneDrive cloud hosting with the password protections of the accounts of Dr. Channarong Intahchomphoo (Co-principal investigator) and Caroline Hyslop (Co-principal investigator) of the University of Ottawa Library. The Library and Archives Canada and the Ottawa Public Library will help by reviewing the research design, commenting on the findings, and disseminating knowledge in the final report of this study. We will not share documents with any third party.

Digital and printed documents in this research including the files of this survey will be destroyed 5 years after the study’s completion.

There is no compensation for your survey participation. This research has received ethics approval from the Office of Research Ethics and Integrity at the University of Ottawa (File # H-10-21-6844). They can be reached at 613-562-5387, ethics@uottawa.ca

For more details about the study please view the attached information sheet and informed consent form for survey participants. If you have questions, please do not hesitate to contact us.

Yours Sincerely,

Co-principal investigator:
Dr. Channarong Intahchomphoo
Replacement Research Librarian (Data)
University of Ottawa Library & Research Fellow – Faculty of Engineering
University of Ottawa
cintahch@uottawa.ca

Co-principal investigator:
Caroline Hyslop
Associate University Librarian, Research Services
University of Ottawa Library
Caroline.Hyslop@uottawa.ca

Project Supervisor:
Dr. André Vellino
Associate Professor, School of Information Studies
University of Ottawa
avellino@uottawa.ca