Ending Reference Roulette: Staffing by the Numbers

1. Reference Desk Staffing Trends and Considerations, 2008 – 12 • 3 librarians weekday afternoons (M,T,W) –> 2 as of spring 2009 • 1 librarian Saturday 1-5 –> 1 graduate library school student as of 2009 • 2 FT librarians Sunday 12-9 –>1 graduate library school student + 1 FT or PT librarian, 12-9 pm • Closed reference desk on Saturdays in August in 2009 • Implemented a user-driven request form for personalized search services in 2011 and eliminated a fixed schedule. Staffing = 3 FT and 2 PT librarians or graduate library school students, from 9 – 5 on weekdays. Ending Reference Roulette: Staffing by the Numbers University at Albany/SUNY, University and Science Libraries Thursday night – reduce to 1 librarian Daily activity • Reference Desk Activity Trends, 2008 – 12 • Overall activity decreased (~25% less) • READ Scale 1 & 2 = 64% of questions • READ Scale 3, 4, 5, & 6 = 36% of questions • Phone calls decreased (~70% fewer) • Meebo questions – almost doubled Phone stats down and Meebo stats up, 2008 - 2012 Removed 1 phone Bonus! Savings = $600 annually Low volume and complexity on Saturdays; staffing changed to 1 graduate student Jean McLaughlin, Reference Assessment Librarian, and Kathryn Farrell, Reference Librarian