From Fall 2014 through Summer 2015, librarians answered 16,121 reference questions.
The number of reference questions answered has dropped from Fall 2013-Summer 2014 (22,998). Fewer librarians to staff the desk has impacted our ability to serve our students.
In previous semesters, desk substitutes would be assigned to cover a librarian's desk if they were scheduled to teach a library instruction class during their normal desk time. But with fewer librarians, we no longer have the luxury of assigning "desk subs." This means that during several peak reference shifts during the semester there was only one librarian available to assist students.
Fall is by far our busiest semester with 53% of questions. Spring follows at 31%. Summer is our least busiest time at 16%.
Our patrons prefer to ask for help In person by a whopping 90%. Patrons contacting us through other means (phone calls, texting, email, and Ask a Librarian form) were only 10%.
57% of questions were divided between patrons seeking in-depth research assistance (Reference - 31%) and directions to other service points on campus (Directional - 26%).
Technical questions (database access, database searching, GoPrint) accounted for 42% of all questions.
Tuesday was our overall busiest day. Monday was our 2nd busiest. Our busiest days/time (anything over 400) for Fall 2014-Summer 2015:
