Target Audience: Librarians who wish to improve their institutions' methods for tracking reference inquiries Learning Outcomes: 1. Participants will evaluate common approaches to maintaining reference statistics. 2. Participants will have the tools to identify the most effective solution for their own libraries.
While data about reference transactions can prove extremely useful for evaluating services, many librarians express unhappiness with their existing methods of collection and analysis. Before reinventing the wheel (again), come to this lively and opinionated evaluation of the most popular techniques for collecting reference statistics. Following the program, participants will understand: (1) reasons to collect statistics beyond minimum reporting requirements, (2) how to design forms that will improve the extraction of data without causing a staff mutiny, and (3) what fee-based solutions are available and how they compare to home-grown methods.