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Library Life Pulse
By Alterline

What's next after LibQUAL?

Updated: Apr 30

What’s Next After LibQUAL? Exploring Your Options for Library Insight


As LibQUAL comes to an end, many academic libraries are asking the same question: what now? For years, LibQUAL has helped institutions gather valuable feedback on library service quality — but its closure presents both a challenge and an opportunity. Whether you’re looking to maintain momentum or rethink your insight strategy, we’re here to help you navigate the next steps.


Why Continuing to Collect Insight Still Matters

Now more than ever, libraries are under pressure to demonstrate value, adapt services to changing student needs, and strengthen their strategic case to stakeholders. Continuing to gather robust, representative insight is essential to:

  • Understand evolving student expectations

  • Identify key drivers of satisfaction and dissatisfaction

  • Benchmark performance and progress over time

  • Support evidence-based planning and investment


The end of LibQUAL doesn’t mean the end of that work — it just means you now have the chance to shape your approach around your institution’s unique goals and context.

 

What Are Your Options Now?


1. Run Your Own Internal Survey

Some institutions may consider developing and running their own insight survey.


Pros:

  • Full control over content and timing

  • Immediate alignment with local strategy

Challenges:

  • No external benchmarks for comparison

  • Limited internal capacity for survey design and analysis

  • Risk of low response or non-actionable data

 

2. Join a Collaborative, Customisable Insight Model

Library Life Pulse offers an alternative that combines structure with flexibility — supporting academic libraries around the world to gather meaningful, visual, and benchmarked insight that reflects their local priorities.


Benefits include:

  • A core set of benchmark questions for sector comparison

  • Fully customisable modules to reflect your context

  • Accessible, student-friendly surveys

  • Visual, actionable reporting

  • Year-on-year tracking

  • Opportunities to learn and collaborate with other institutions

 

What to Consider When Choosing a New Approach

  • Customisability – Can you tailor the survey to your strategy?

  • Student experience – Will students actually want to complete it?

  • Actionability – Is the data clear and easy to use?

  • Benchmarking – Can you compare performance?

  • Support – Do you have expert help if needed?

 

How Library Life Pulse Can Help

Library Life Pulse was developed by student insight specialists at Alterline, in collaboration with academic libraries. It’s designed to:

  • Deliver strategic, user-centred insight

  • Make reporting simple, visual and shareable

  • Save you time by providing survey design and support

  • Enable deeper understanding of different student groups

  • Support evidence-based planning and change


Whether you’ve used LibQUAL before or are exploring library insight tools for the first time, we’re here to help you build the approach that works for you.


Tips for Moving Forward With Confidence

You don’t have to figure this out alone. Many academic libraries are in the same position — and there are some helpful steps you can take now to keep momentum and clarity:


1. Involve your team earlyBring in colleagues from user experience, assessment, and communications. Having diverse input strengthens your survey approach and ensures buy-in.


2. Think about what you need to know — not just what you’ve asked beforeUse this moment to refresh your focus. What are your current priorities? What new challenges or user needs are emerging?


3. Prioritise clarity and accessibility Surveys work best when they’re easy to complete. Use plain language, explain why it matters, and keep it concise.


4. Plan for response and action Have a timeline in mind: when will it run, who will promote it, and how will results be shared and used?


5. Consider benchmarking and support Working with others allows you to compare, learn and adapt faster — and saves time internally.


Is This the Right Time to Try Something New?

Here’s a simple checklist to reflect:

  • Are we confident in what we’re asking - and why?

  • Do we have capacity to run and analyse a survey alone?

  • Would benchmarking add value to our conversations with stakeholders?

  • Do we want to understand particular groups better (e.g. postgraduates, distance learners)?

  • Are we ready to build a more tailored, strategic approach?

If you’re nodding along to some of these, Library Life Pulse might be a helpful next step.

 

Let’s Talk About What’s Next

If you're considering what to do after LibQUAL, we’d love to talk. Whether or not Library Life Pulse is the right fit for you, we’re happy to offer a conversation to explore your options.


There’s no one-size-fits-all — and that’s okay. We’re here to help you find the approach that makes the most sense for your library.

 

Want to keep moving forward?

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