Descriptor
Source
Author
Coffman, Steve | 2 |
Anhang, Abe | 1 |
Bradigan, Pamela S. | 1 |
Bunge, Charles A. | 1 |
Campbell, Jerry D. | 1 |
Castonguay, Russell | 1 |
Cauble, Lynn A. | 1 |
Cullen, Rowena | 1 |
Eichler, Linda | 1 |
Elliott, Laura Lee | 1 |
Gilles, Mary M. | 1 |
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Goldhor, Herbert – RQ, 1987
Discusses sources of available data on reference questions asked and answered in public libraries, and analyzes data collected between 1970 and 1985 in nine states. National data from libraries in the United States, Canada, and Great Britain are also presented. (Author/MES)
Descriptors: Data Analysis, Library Services, Library Statistics, Public Libraries
Coffman, Steve; McGlamery, Susan – American Libraries, 2000
Discusses the availability and quality of commercial reference services available on the World Wide Web such as Ask Jeeves and the decline in library reference service statistics. Describes a project in California to help libraries develop live, real-time reference services over the Web by adapting Web contact center software. (LRW)
Descriptors: Computer Software, Electronic Libraries, Library Services, Library Statistics

Campbell, Jerry D. – Reference & User Services Quarterly, 2000
Discusses the current state of academic reference services from a library administrator's point of view. Highlights include statistics that show a lack of quality reference service that meets users' needs; a decline in the demand for reference services; the role of technology; and changing attitudes about education, including increasing…
Descriptors: Educational Change, Library Administrators, Library Services, Library Statistics

Rothstein, Samuel – Reference Librarian, 1989
Discusses measurement and evaluation as ways to justify reference work to users and library administration. A trivia contest is cited as a way to achieve public recognition, and measuring use of reference materials rather than the number of reference questions is recommended. User surveys and other measures of reference activity and value are also…
Descriptors: Evaluation Methods, Library Administration, Library Services, Library Statistics

Cullen, Rowena; Gray, Alistair – Journal of Library Administration, 1995
Due to inaccuracies in method, public libraries consistently undermeasure their reference transactions. This article chronicles the process of developing ways to systematize the count. Results of a literature survey, merits of various sample sizes, sample selection, and calculations are all discussed. Appendices include a list of categories of…
Descriptors: Error of Measurement, Foreign Countries, Library Statistics, Measurement Techniques

Powell, Carol A.; Bradigan, Pamela S. – Reference & User Services Quarterly, 2001
Describes the process of initiating an e-mail reference service in 1995 at the Ohio State University Health Sciences Library and the growth of the service through 2000. Includes data on types of patrons who use the service; types of questions and answers; and how results have led to re-evaluating all reference services. (LRW)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Electronic Mail, Higher Education, Library Research

Paradis, Olga – Journal of Interlibrary Loan, Document Delivery & Information Supply, 1998
Describes the inclusion of interlibrary loan services in the reference department of the science and engineering library that accounted for a large percentage of the interlibrary loan activity, based on experiences at Baylor University. Staffing, interlibrary loan statistics, and faculty needs are discussed. (LRW)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Higher Education, Interlibrary Loans, Library Personnel
Roose, Tina – Library Journal, 1985
Examines online searching done for public libraries during October 1984 at The System Reference Service of the multitype North Suburban Library System. Highlights include total requests searched online, total public library requests searched online (by subject category), samples of successful and unsuccessful public library searches, databases…
Descriptors: Costs, Databases, Information Retrieval, Library Networks
Somerville, Mary R. – School Library Journal, 1989
Reviews the factors that tend to limit youth services budgets in public libraries, and discusses the need to collect relevant data on the use of libraries by children and adolescents to justify financial support of youth services. Strategies for collecting such data are outlined and appropriate resource allocation is discussed. (CLB)
Descriptors: Adolescents, Budgeting, Children, Demography

Lochstet, Gwenn; Lehman, Donna H. – College & Research Libraries, 1999
Describes a correlation method for calculating reference statistics using weekly door counts that was tested at the University of South Carolina while studying a sampling technique for collecting reference statistics. Results indicate this method may offer libraries an accurate and less time-consuming procedure for keeping reference statistics.…
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Correlation, Higher Education, Library Research

Bunge, Charles A. – RQ, 1986
A survey of public and academic libraries conducted to obtain information on length of reference desk shifts and proportion of the reference librarian's time spent at the desk found the two-hour weekday shift to be the most common, and that librarians typically work 7 to 21 hours per week at the desk. (EM)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Guidelines, Higher Education, Library Statistics
Wismer, Donald – Online, 1985
Reports on in-house use of online services at the Maine State Library for searches not specifically requested by client or initiated by staff member to advance job flow. Use of TALIMAINE service for interlibrary loan verification, document delivery, book selection, and staff development, and client breakdown for 1983-1984 are described. (EJS)
Descriptors: Interlibrary Loans, Library Material Selection, Library Services, Library Statistics
Kenney, Brian – Library Journal, 2002
Discusses digital reference services, also known as virtual reference, chat reference, or online reference, based on a round table discussion at the 2002 American Library Association annual conference in Atlanta. Topics include numbers and marketing; sustainability; competition and models; evaluation methods; outsourcing; staffing and training;…
Descriptors: Competition, Conferences, Evaluation Methods, Futures (of Society)

Taylor, Adrien – Reference Librarian, 1994
Discussion of planning for reference service focuses on assessing past practices and statistics of past use to help plan for the future. Topics addressed include identifying an organizational goal and staff training, including professionals and nonprofessionals. (Contains 13 references.) (LRW)
Descriptors: Futures (of Society), Library Personnel, Library Planning, Library Services

Smith, Dana E. – Library Software Review, 1986
Discusses the application and use of a microcomputer-assisted reference statistics procedure which allows for customized programs to be designed and determined by local, unique research objectives, service demands, and the ultimate use of the recorded data. A literature review of the development and use of reference statistics is included. (EM)
Descriptors: Academic Libraries, Authoring Aids (Programing), Computer Oriented Programs, Computer Software