Tracking Reference Transactions at Rider University 13 th Annual VALE/NJ ACRL/NJLA CUS Users Conference January 5, 2012 Pat Dawson Science Librarian Moore Library, Rider University

Quick Overview READ Scale-what is it? Google Docs/Google Forms

READ Scale?? READ = Reference Effort Assessment Data 6 point scale grading reference questions 1 = least amount of time (directional, hours, location of printers) 6 = most amount of time, expertise (in depth research, creating bibliographies) Provides method for quantifying activities Source: “Introducing the READ Scale: Qualitative Statistics for Academic Reference Services,” Bella Karr Gerlich and G. Lynn Berard, Georgia Library Quarterly Winter 2007, 7-13.

Accessing Google docs to create form: Login to Google Account

Create Questions Select type of question from pull down menu Check box to make answer required Save Format

Recording Reference Transactions Link on Desktop for Accessing Form

Overview of Scale and List of Librarians

Rating Reference Questions

Amount of Time

Box for Additional Comments

Data Collected

Conclusion Google Docs easy to use, price is right (Free!) Survey form has multiple type of questions Can be shared with colleagues Download into Excel for analysis Some uses of data: Staffing requirements Collection development Follow ups on library instruction