Transaction Analysis of Interactions at the Reference Desk of a Small Academic Library

Empey, Heather

doi:10.21083/partnership.v5i2.1183

Cited by 3 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 8 publications

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“…Most of the inquiries in both Stevens' ( 2013) and Empey's (2010) studies were concluded quickly. Empey (2010) found a slight decrease in the number of inquiries lasting longer than 6 min from data collected in 2006 and 2007, compared to data from 2009 and concludes that the level of instruction being provided had decreased. In Stevens' (2013, p. 204) study, only 3% of the questions "required 10 or more minutes to answer."…”

Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Similarly, the omission of closing phrases was related to dissatisfaction (Saunders and Ung, 2017). Empey (2010), who analyzed reference interactions at a small academic library, suggests that the time spent on inquiries indicates either the level of instructions or the complexity of the questions. Most of the inquiries in both Stevens' ( 2013) and Empey's (2010) studies were concluded quickly.…”

Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Empey (2010), who analyzed reference interactions at a small academic library, suggests that the time spent on inquiries indicates either the level of instructions or the complexity of the questions. Most of the inquiries in both Stevens' ( 2013) and Empey's (2010) studies were concluded quickly. Empey (2010) found a slight decrease in the number of inquiries lasting longer than 6 min from data collected in 2006 and 2007, compared to data from 2009 and concludes that the level of instruction being provided had decreased.…”

Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the reference desk used for reference interviews

Bøyum

Byström

Pharo

2021

RSR

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Purpose The purpose of this study is to investigate why users turn to the university library’s reference desk and whether librarians make use of the opportunity to conduct reference interviews to disclose any unexpressed information needs. Design/methodology/approach This paper presents the results from a qualitative exploration study where interactions between librarians and users were observed in authentic situations at the reference desk and analyzed using a modified version of Radford and Connaway’s (2013) categorization of inquiries. Findings Most inquiries were seemingly easy to answer and pertained to collections and procedures in the library. Lending out desk supplies accounted for a high proportion of the activity. Only a small number of requests were subject-oriented and reference interview techniques were only used in 5% of the recorded inquiries. This means that the users’ information needs were not probed in the vast majority of the interactions. Research limitations/implications The study is exploratory and mirrors the activity that takes place in one specific library. The low number of reference interview techniques used may indicate a lack of interest in users’ information needs, which signifies a risk of the reference desk being reduced to an arena for instrumental and superficial interaction between librarians and users. Originality/value This study illustrates current developments in work at a physical library desk. Few recent studies address face-to-face interactions between librarians and users.

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Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: The Reference Interviewmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Is the reference desk used for reference interviews

Bøyum

Byström

Pharo

2021

RSR

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“…A hallmark of neoliberalism in library service structures is the commodification of patrons and their data (Mathios,125 2019). Even though varied metrics such as in-house materials usage statistics (Rose-Wise & Irwin, 2016), circulation statistics (Rose-Wiles et al, 2020), and reference transaction statistics (Beirne & Aldridge, 2012;Dubnjakovic, 2012;Empey, 2010;LeMire et al, 2016;Ryan, 2008) continue to be used to gauge the value of libraries, these methods are ill-suited to establish with confidence authentic correlations between student success and the utilization of library resources and services. Thorpe et al (2016) write that "changes in student use of the library, both physically and virtually, mean that gate counts, room use counts, in-house print collection tick marks, and attendance for library instruction sessions are insufficient measures for showing student engagement with the library" (p. 373).…”

Section: Establishing Protocols For the Collection And Management Of Datamentioning

confidence: 99%

Unresolved Privacy and Ethics Issues Related to Learning Analytics in Higher Education and Academic Librarianship

Currier¹

2021

elip

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Learning analytics involve big data collection, analysis processes, and technology that are used in higher education institutes and academic libraries to support student success and perform organizational assessment. Since these processes require the input of personally identifiable student and patron information to be effective, there are major ethical and legal considerations that must be addressed concerning privacy. This article demonstrates that privacy concerns about learning analytics can be mitigated by requiring informed consent from participants, establishing protocols for the collection and management of personally identifiable information, and advocating privacy rights of patrons. By synthesizing and expanding on viewpoints from the literature, this article offers recommendations pertaining to the collection, analysis, and management of patron data that are gathered for the purpose of learning analytics.

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Embedded Reference: Providing Research Guidance within the Education Courseroom

Morasch

2013

Journal of Library & Information Services in Distance Learn

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Transaction Analysis of Interactions at the Reference Desk of a Small Academic Library

Cited by 3 publications

References 8 publications

Is the reference desk used for reference interviews

Is the reference desk used for reference interviews

Unresolved Privacy and Ethics Issues Related to Learning Analytics in Higher Education and Academic Librarianship

Embedded Reference: Providing Research Guidance within the Education Courseroom

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