OATdb Archive

2009 - 2010

Library, Access Services

Goal
Collection
Provide seamless access to a collection of high quality resources, including print, web-based resources and locally produced content, which meet the curricular and research requirements of the University.

Objective
Access To Resources
Improve the Library's catalog so that it accurately reflects the holdings. 



Indicator
Re-inventory The Collection
Access Services will improve the accuracy of the catalog, and so access, to all items in the Main Collection through the re-inventorying project. While replacing Optical Character Recognition (OCR) labels with barcodes to make the collection compatible with current technology, the accuracy of the catalog records is also being assessed.  Copies of titles are being adding/deleting to reflect actual holdings and incorrect information is being identified and corrected.

Criterion
Re-inventory The Collection
Complete the inventory of the fourth floor between the call numbers HV 741 .F648 1991 and LZ 9999 Complete the inventory of the third floor between the call numbers PT 2615 .A8 1963 and Z 9999 Complete the inventory of the Juvenile-Young Adult Collection, call numbers LS

Finding
Completed Call Number Ranges In Re-inventory Project
Completed Re-inventory through QC174 .E3 1960 on the third floor
Completed Re-inventory through HX656 .N5W5 on the fourth floor
Have not begun Re-inventory on the Juvenile-Young Adult collection.

Indicator
Quality Control
Insure that books and bound journals are being replaced on the shelves in correct order.

Criterion
Quality Control Checks
Routinely perform quality control checks of books being reshelved. A supervisor writes down call numbers of books on a book truck.  Once shelved by a student worker, the supervisor verifies that the books were shelved in the correct place on the shelves. 

Routinely perform quality control checks of sections of books that have been checked for book order accuracy.  As part of their responsibilities, student workers must shelf read assigned areas of shelving.  When shelf reading, the student workers look at each book on the shelf and verify that the books are in the correct order.  If they are not in the correct order, the student worker places the book correctly.

Finding
Quality Control Checks
Quality control checks were performed on every book truck shelved.  Re-training of student workers occurred when errors were identified.

Quality control checks were performed on all sections that had been shelf read.  Corrections were made where needed and re-training of student workers occurred when errors were identified.

Action
Access To Resources
We will continue to re-inventory the collection until it has been completed.
Quality control checks on shelving and shelf reading will continue.

Goal
Services
Provide and improve the services that support the learning, teaching, and research needs of students and faculty.

Objective
Faculty Satisfaction
Continuous improvement in faculty satisfaction with library support of research and curriculum

Indicator
Circulation Services
Customer/patron will find the services at the Circulation desk meet their expectations 90% of the time.

Criterion
Circulation Services Satisfaction Survey
E-mail survey developed during the 2008-2009 that is designed to provide patron satisfaction information to be administered in Spring 2010 to faculty, staff undergraduate and graduate students.

Finding
Satisfaction With Circulation And Reserves Services
Of the 352 people that completed the survey, 66 were faculty.  2/3 of faculty come into the library at least once a week.  Response to the question pertaining to importance of the library, 77.2% said very important, 12.3% somewhat important, and 10.5 were neutral.
Over 64% indicated that they were always welcomed, that they received the information they needed, that they were always treated courteously, and that the library faculty and staff were knowledgeable.

The response to the ease of use for placing material on electronic reserves indicates that 35.4% felt it was very easy, 15.4% somewhat easy, 3.1% were neutral, 3.1% said not very easy, and 1.5% very difficult.

Comments made by faculty were largely positive with some suggestions for additional or enhanced services.  There were single comments on issues directly related to Circulation: Staff were not friendly or knowledgeable; would like to see a list of books he/she had checked out. There were two comments about electronic reserves.  The first that it took too long to process and make accessible electronic reserves.  The second, that it would be nice if faculty could just scan material themselves and place them on reserve. 

Action
Faculty Satisfaction
Access Services staff will continue to train and monitor the performance of student assistants to ensure that our service continually improves.  A wiki will be created to ensure that information about services and/or procedures will be communicated to all staff. 

Library personnel are working with the Library system vendor to create a secure environment so that patrons have access to lists of the books on their account and any fines or charges accrued.

Additional personnel and equipment in Reserves are required in order to make the length of time between reserve request submission and making the material accessible shorter.  Placement of material on reserve must be mediated by Library faculty and staff to insure compliance with copyright law and guidelines. 

Objective
Library Services
Increase the effectiveness of library services.

Indicator
Electronic Reserves
Increase the number of resources made available to entire classes through Electronic Reserves.

Criterion
Electronic Reserves
Increase the number of items placed on Electronic Reserves by 10% using the 2008-2009 academic year as the baseline.

Finding
Electronic Reserves
A total of 558 electronic reserves files were either new or unarchived for the 12 months of the 2008-2009 academic year.  The September through March of the 2008-2009 academic year total for new or unarchived files was 367.

During the period of September through March of the 2009-2010 academic year, 513 new or unarchived files were placed on electronic reserves.  2009-2010, September through March, was 40% higher than the same period of the 2008-2009 academic year.

Action
Electronic Reserves
The number of electronic reserves files used by faculty for their students increased more than expected.  We will continue to work with faculty to provide access to needed material to students.  We will also continue to publicize the service to both existing and new faculty.

Objective
Promote Library Services
Disseminate information about Library resources and services.

Indicator
Promote Circulation Services
Provide graduating students with information about their Library account at Destination Graduation.

Criterion
Destination Graduation
Distribute at least $1.00 off coupons to at least 20 students who have accumulated fines under $10.00

Finding
Destination Graduation
Destination Graduation was discontinued as an online program was developed.  No coupons were distributed as a result.

Action
Destination Graduation
Due to discontinuation of the program, we will not be able to distribute coupons for use against existing library fines.



Update to previous cycle's plan for continuous improvement

Plan for continuous improvement Access Services was largely successful in achieving our goals.  We will continue to do those activities that promote the services we offer and to improve our performance.  As indicated above, continuing training, closer supervision, and the creation of a departmental wiki will be implemented to correct problems related to lack of knowledge. Retraining will continue on an individual basis when quality control verification indicates that it is necessary.