Connecting the dots: Rural public libraries as partners for small business and rural workforce growth |
INFORMED CONSENT
Principal Investigator: Xiaofeng Li, Ph.D., Assistant Professor, Department of Library and Information Science, Pennsylvania Western University, xli@pennwest.edu
KEY INFORMATION
Library administrators and library staff are invited to participate in a grant research project funded by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania. Each library service location is invited to complete one survey. Participation in the study is voluntary, and you may stop at any time.
The purpose of the study is to understand resources, programs, services, and partnerships that public libraries provide in supporting small businesses and workforce development. In this study, you will be asked to answer up to 19 survey questions. It is estimated that completing the survey will take about 12 minutes.
The study has no potential risks. As a token of appreciation, respondents who complete the survey will have the opportunity to enter a drawing for one of fifteen $20 gift cards. Please note that entering the drawing is entirely voluntary and will not affect your ability to participate in the survey. Your response helps ensure that results are representative and the conclusions reflect the views of librarians throughout the Commonwealth. Aggregated results will be shared with members of the Pennsylvania General Assembly who may use them to inform policy or funding.
SECURITY OF DATA
The online study is completely anonymous; you will not be asked to share any information that could identify you. The survey is NOT linked to IP addresses. Individual responses will not be published, only the aggregated data. If you choose to enter the gift card drawing by providing your email address, please rest assured that all information will be handled in a confidential manner to the extent provided by law. Only the principal researcher will have access to your email address, which will be used solely for the purpose of sending you the digital gift card.
Remember, taking part in this study is voluntary. If, while taking the survey, you feel uncomfortable or no longer want to participate, you may stop at any time. To stop taking the survey, you may either: (1) proceed to the last page of the survey and press “Submit,” or (2) if you wish to exit the survey, close your browser completely. The PennWest University Institutional Review Board (IRB) may review the research records. The study results may be shared in aggregate form at a meeting or journal, but there is no identifiable information to be revealed. The records from this study will be maintained for a minimum of three years after the study is complete. Information collected for this research will not be used or distributed for inclusion in any future research projects. If you have questions about the research or a research-related injury, you can contact xli@pennwest.edu. If you have a question about your rights as a research participant that you need to discuss with someone, you can contact the PennWest University Institutional Review Board.
By clicking on the “I agree” box and continuing with the survey, you acknowledge that you have read the informed consent and are at least 18 years old. Also, you acknowledge that you agree to participate in the study and have the right not to answer any or all the questions in the survey. Finally, you acknowledge that your participation is entirely voluntary, and you may exit the survey at any time without penalty. If you would like a copy of this informed consent, please print this screen or contact xli@pennwest.edu.