Press Here for More Data: Advanced Tracking with Simple Technology
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Authors
Leonard, Sarah
Issue Date
2025-01-15
Type
Conference presentations, papers, posters
Language
Keywords
User Experience , Data , Interaction , Reference , Library
Alternative Title
Abstract
With technological advances, the library professions have seen development over time from hash marks and Hollerith cards to web forms, and now programmable button systems. From the mid-1990s onwards, the goal of data collection at libraries has always been focused on basic tenets,
1. low-cost solutions
2. simple systems for collection of data, both for instruction of staff, and ease of use.
3. records needed to contain enough data points that various variables could be compared to each other.
At the USMA Library, considerations included these important factors. During a discussion between staff, issues with the effort and time involved in reporting interactions at our service desks, why couldn’t tracking this data be as simple as just pushing a button?
This one thought changed the USMA Library’s trajectory. The issue wasn’t staff effort, better instruction, or expressing the value of the data that needed to be recorded. The USMA Library staff was well versed in all these things. The issue was that the system for recording data needed to be adjusted to fit the needs of our users, the users being the USMA Library staff.
With the creation and introduction of a new button system, ease of use has led to increased reporting as well as improved records which are timelier and more accurate. After implementation of the button system in January the USMA Library has 10,964 interaction records for 2024, doubling the reporting data from 2018-2022 and providing a significant increase over 2023.
Description
The paper presented on November 8, 2024, was a draft. The updated final paper including data through January 5, 2025, was completed January 13, 2025. The Final Version is attached.
Citation
Leonard-Hayward, Sarah. “Press Here for More Data: Advanced Tracking with Simple Technology.” Paper presented at the Library Assessment Conference, Portland, OR, November 8, 2024. https://events.arl.org/lac24/program.
Publisher
Association of Research Libraries