7. User Relationships, Interest Groups and User Feedback

EDINA continued to make use of its various JISCmail lists to keep users and support staff informed of service changes, e.g. for Digimap Collections to encourage discussion about the service between users in different institutions and disciplines. Other separate groups by email lists were contacted throughout the year with important announcements as well as to enlist volunteers for trials and early adopters to new services and projects.

We continued to receive a small number of user comments submitted via feedback forms within service interfaces. Additionally comments received at events were fed back and acted on accordingly.

Beginning in June 2009 EDINA undertook a survey of institutional support staff to establish what support is provided within UK academic institutions for the use of maps, spatial data and specialist GIS/CAD software, as well as support for online geospatial resources. The work is being done in conjunction with the JISC Geospatial Working Group, to which reports will be submitted when complete.

As detailed in the Reading and Reference Services section of this report, the SUNCAT team conducted two surveys during 2008/2009. One addressed the issue of duplication whilst the other focused on Impact and Satisfaction for users of the service

The EDINA Management Board recommended establishing Strategic Focus Groups in EDINA's business areas at the meeting in March 2009. EDINA proposed to pilot the Focus Groups, beginning with one in the Scholarly Communications business area. A number of key people working in the Scholarly Communications area will be invited to the meeting planned for Spring 2010.