Slide 1

How do we talk to
zoo keepers?
Michele Peters
University of St. Thomas

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 2

What is ISIS?
The International Species

Information System (ISIS) works
with the zoological community to
support animal care and
conservation worldwide
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 3

ISIS impact
California condor -- critically endangered
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 4

Zoological Information
Management System (ZIMS)


Largest Web-based project in world

Will contain information on more
than 2 million animals


Will connect more
than 20,000 zoological
professionals in more
than 70 countries


© ISIS. 2005


Slide 5

Question: Do communications
from ISIS meet the needs of the
organization’s membership?

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 6

Why a survey?
To determine if ISIS members:
Receive communications from ISIS
 Understand the information received
 Are aware of the ZIMS Project
 Desire more information about ISIS


© ISIS. 2005


Slide 7

Methodology
24-question survey (English only)
 Placed on organization’s Web site
(www.isis.org)
 Link e-mailed to 2,500 contacts
 Link in monthly newsletter


© ISIS. 2005


Slide 8

Response rate
 383 responses out of 2,500
 More than 15%

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 9

The survey
Overall, I feel the
communication I currently
receive from ISIS is:
 Good (86%)
 Variable (12%)
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 10

Do you receive
communication from ISIS at
the appropriate intervals?
 When it is appropriate (86%)
 Too seldom (almost 10%)

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 11

Subjects of concern
ZIMS Project
Web site

Newsletter
Language
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 12

Are you aware of the
ZIMS Project?
 17%

-- involved & know a lot
 21% -- involved, not knowledgeable
 30%

-- know a lot, but not involved
 +30% -- don’t know much
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 13

Is the information on the
ISIS Web site relevant to
your work?
 86%

useful
 13% somewhat useful

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 14

ISIS News covers
topics of interest
 10%

always
 37% most of the time
 51% sometimes

© ISIS. 2005


Slide 15

The information in ISIS
News is useful to my work
 10%

very useful
 34% useful
 50% somewhat useful
 6% not useful
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 16

In what language do you
prefer to communicate?
 English

(86% - 342 responses)
 French, German, Spanish (3% each)
 Croatian, Danish, Dutch, Italian,
Japanese, Polish, Portuguese,
Russian, Scandinavian
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 17

How would you rate
your understanding of
written English?
 89%

excellent
 3% good
 8% fair
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 18

Conclusion
ISIS members are satisfied with
communications from ISIS and
understand the information

However, communications
surrounding the ZIMS Project
must be enhanced
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 19

Recommendations (cont.)
 ZIMS

Project

 Increase

profile of the project
 Survey members
 Which

areas are they not informed

about?
 Why are members choosing not to
become involved in the project?
 Target

communications to those who
are involved in the project
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 20

Recommendations
 ISIS

Web site

 Evaluate

content
 Keep content current
 ISIS

News (newsletter)

 Include

more topics of interest
 Add short surveys to Web page
 Explore translations
© ISIS. 2005


Slide 21

Questions?

© ISIS. 2005