  Context: By providing information about the location of scattering material
along the line of sight (LoS) to pulsars, scintillation arcs are a powerful
tool for exploring the distribution of ionized material in the interstellar
medium. Here, we present observations that probe the ionized ISM on scales of
$\sim$~0.001 -- 30~au.
  Aims: We have surveyed pulsars for scintillation arcs in a relatively
unbiased sample with DM < 100 pc cm-3. We present multi-frequency observations
of 22 low to moderate DM pulsars. Many of the 54 observations were also
observed at another frequency within a few days.
  Methods: For all observations we present dynamic spectra, autocorrelation
functions, and secondary spectra. We analyze these data products to obtain
scintillation bandwidths, pulse broadening times, and arc curvatures.
  Results: We detect definite or probable scintillation arcs in 19 of the 22
pulsars and 34 of the 54 observations, showing that scintillation arcs are a
prevalent phenomenon. The arcs are better defined in low DM pulsars. We show
that well-defined arcs do not directly imply anisotropy of scattering. Only the
presence of reverse arclets and a deep valley along the delay axis, which
occurs in about 20\% of the pulsars in the sample, indicates substantial
anisotropy of scattering.
  Conclusions: The survey demonstrates substantial patchiness of the ionized
ISM on both au size scales transverse to the line of sight and on $\sim$~100~pc
scales along it. We see little evidence for distributed scattering along most
lines of sight in the survey.
