Survey 2006
Results of surveys 2006
Big majority of newsletter readers use articles
Newsletter articles from our family of Source newsletters in different formats, languages and content are very useful for readers in their work. More than half of the 116 survey respondents provided examples of how the electronic Source has helped them in their work. Nine out of ten readers of the Source Bulletin (124 responses on paper) gave examples of how they used the information in their work. Of the 100 persons responding to a question on usefulness of IRC publications 52 found them useful and 45 very useful. Of the 39 persons who never download free publications two third were not aware of this option.
Learning and action score highest among readers of Source Weekly
Personal learning, action on programmes and advocacy are the top-three information needs that according to users are met (in full or for most part) by IRC newsletter articles and publications. Of 140 respondents 65 forward Source by e-mail or in hardcopy to other colleagues, 24 to one person per edition, 14 to two persons per edition and 6 to more than 10 persons per edition. French and Spanish feedback scored the same.
Readers use Source Bulletin stories from the field
Stories on school sanitation clubs from Uganda, crippling fluorisis in an Indian village, water and culture and innovative micro-financing are mentioned and used most by readers of the paper version of Source Bulletin. The uses of articles range from convincing teachers and pupils in primary schools to form sanitation clubs to using the methods on multiple use systems with youth volunteers to execute community-based projects. A surprisingly high number (nine out of ten) of respondents mentioned articles that have been especially relevant/useful to them and gave examples of how they used them.
Interesting examples on use of Source Bulletin
Nine out of ten respondents gave one or two examples of how Source Bulletin has helped them in their work: 97 from the English and 14 of the French respondents.
Publications highly useful
From the 100 replies received on the question how useful respondents find IRC’s publications for their work 45 percent said “very useful" and 52 percent "useful". Writing master thesis, for knowledge management, used for teaching workshops, field awareness, keep up with WASH sector news, were mentioned mostly to describe if and how IRC publications have helped in their work. Of the 39 persons who never download free publications two third were not aware of this option.
