Half Empty or Half Full? Staffing Trends in Academic Libraries at U.S. Research Universities, 2000–2008

Stewart, Christopher

doi:10.1016/j.acalib.2010.06.003

Cited by 17 publications

(13 citation statements)

References 7 publications

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“…Of the 176 academic libraries in a recent staffing study, approximately 65 percent (113) saw declines in FTE staff between 2000 and 2008. 28 For users of these library facilities, multiple information desks could be staffed with personnel having a basic level of training concerning the facility and its services, or at the very least a QR code for a mobile library app. Future research on mobile library apps is necessary; however, their use should be able to improve library services and resources.…”

Section: The Potential Of Data-driven Mobile Library Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Where Do We Go from Here? Informing Academic Library Staffing through Reference Transaction Analysis

Bishop¹,

Bartlett

2013

CRL

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This study conducted a systematic sample of every 70th reference transaction from over a three-year period and analyzed 1,852 reference transactions asked at an academic library system's fifteen face-to-face (f2f) service points as well as via telephone, e-mail, and chat. Findings indicate two-thirds of the total questions asked were location-based questions about the library. Also, 80.2 percent of location-based questions and 77.2 percent of subject-based questions were asked f2f. Analysis of location-based reference questions informs effective deployment of librarians and staff at library service points as well as the development of mobile library apps.iven the ever-present challenges to staffing reference with declining budgets in the academic environment, coordinating the provision of information services requires using the right mix of librarians, library staff, and information technology. In 2010, 62.7 percent of undergraduate students owned Internetcapable handheld devices. 1 With the rapid adoption of mobile technologies and advances in all digital resources, librarians and staff may now provide answers to user questions wherever those questions arise. The main benefit of "anyplace" information services is that the distance between users and librarians matters less for service provision. However, where the information gap occurs for the user and where the librarian is located to help answer questions still matters. 2 When considering optimal staffing of academic libraries with limited resources, an analysis of the places where questions are asked provides valuable data to library managers facing tough staffing choices.The problem this study addresses is that academic libraries must provide reference services to their students, faculty, staff, and community users in a timely, efficient manner with limited human resources. At the academic library system used in this study, only 56.7 percent of the transactions captured the patron type, crl-365

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Section: The Potential Of Data-driven Mobile Library Applicationsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Where Do We Go from Here? Informing Academic Library Staffing through Reference Transaction Analysis

Bishop¹,

Bartlett

2013

CRL

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“…Between 2000 and 2008, 65 percent of the 176 academic libraries recently surveyed saw declines in FTE staff [1]. Virtual reference consortia provide an example of how academic libraries can simultaneously cut staffing costs and expand reference services by pooling human resources.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…A dissertation explored this phenomenon and utilizing three methods; (1) content analysis; (2) focus groups; and (3) unobtrusive testing. The methods were iterative and findings from each method influenced the successive methods.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Can Consortial Reference Partners Answer Your Local Users' Library Questions?

Bishop¹

2012

pla

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The purpose of this article is to explore location-based questions as a weakness of virtual reference consortia and discuss how to mitigate related issues. Content analysis of how both local and non-local academic librarians responded to location-based questions provides insight into considerations academic libraries must make when participating in a virtual reference consortia. Unobtrusive testing analyzed the local knowledge assumption that non-local librarians have difficulty answering questions about libraries beyond their own. The results from these two methods indicate academic librarians have some difficulties providing responses to library location-based questions and a discussion on overcoming this weakness is included.

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“…Hiring freezes, salary cuts, and a reduction of work hours are the preferred method of keeping staffing levels low (Nicholas, Rowlands, Jubb, and Jamali 2010). Additionally, libraries have seen a redistribution of responsibilities to support staff and a redefinition of the role of the librarian away from legacy services (Stewart 2010).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Life after TILT: Building an Interactive Information Literacy Tutorial

Anderson

Mitchell

2012

Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learn

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Academic librarians at a mid-size university library developed an online information literacy tutorial that is easy to create, access, edit, and organize even for those with limited time and technological skills. Modular in structure, Project Information Literacy Online Tutorial (PILOT) includes interactive exercises, media, and self-testing as well as quizzes that can be graded. The original development of this tutorial was not without its difficulties, but has resulted in a product that is flexible, powerful, and freely available for adoption and/or adaptation by other libraries.

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Half Empty or Half Full? Staffing Trends in Academic Libraries at U.S. Research Universities, 2000–2008

Cited by 17 publications

References 7 publications

Where Do We Go from Here? Informing Academic Library Staffing through Reference Transaction Analysis

Where Do We Go from Here? Informing Academic Library Staffing through Reference Transaction Analysis

Can Consortial Reference Partners Answer Your Local Users' Library Questions?

Life after TILT: Building an Interactive Information Literacy Tutorial

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