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University of Iowa

University Libraries

HSS & UED Dashboard: Statistics

OVPR - 2025 Federal Updates

Check here for Campus Updates.

Why We Collect Statistics

Why collect statistics:

  • Some are required for comparing ourselves to our peers (ARL stats go to Kelly Taylor annually to submission)
  • Reference Sampling Week
  • Making a case for replacement and additional hiring
  • Proving services are being used and/or making decisions about changing services
  • Looking at work distribution equity

Question Tracking

Reference Sampling Week Statistics

Reference Sampling Weeks

Everyone, please enter your stats for Reference Sampling Week using the form above. Do NOT use an individual form or turn them in individually to Carolyn. If we all use the form, we can simply collect the statistics from that one spot, easily, quickly, and efficiently. The key here is that you get your stats entered during that week. (FYI, you can back-date the statistics you enter, but there will be a firm deadline for when you need to get the statistics recorded for these weeks.)

Trend Spotting

Let's take a look at how our numbers are moving up or down over the various Reference Sampling Weeks. Carolyn will record our numbers here, after reporting them to Admin, so we can all see how things are changing from semester to semester. 

Reference Sampling Week results for HSS & UED
DATES # of Reference Questions and Research Consultations # of Chats & LibAnswer Questions Total Reported
September 20-26, 2021 40 39 79
February 21-27, 2022 28 20 48
July 18-24, 2022 24 17 41
September 19-25, 2022 24 37 61
February 20-26, 2023 55 25 80
July 17-23, 2023 7 13 20
September 18-24, 2023 50 31 81
February 19-25, 2024 35 19 54
July 15-21, 2024 25 17 42
September 16-22, 2024 54 34 88
February 17-23, 2025 45 22 64

Procedures for Capturing Statistics from HSS/UED 

Definitions for Shared Understanding

 

Reference Question -

Research Consultation - 

From the Reference Sampling Reporting Form (2018):

A reference transaction is an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation, or instruction in the use [or creation of] one or more information sources by a member of the library staff. The term includes information and referral service. Information sources include (a) printed and nonprinted material; (b) machine-readable databases (including computer-assisted instruction); (c) the library’s own catalogs and other holdings records; (d) other libraries and institutions through communication or referral; and (e) persons both inside and outside the library. When a staff member uses information gained from previous use of information sources to answer a question, the transaction is reported as a reference transaction even if the source is not consulted again.

EXCLUDE SIMPLE DIRECTIONAL QUESTIONS which are an information contact that facilitates the logistical use of the library.

Archived "RLI" SUMA Data

The unit formerly known as Research & Library Instruction (RLI) is now two units, Humanities & Social Sciences and Undergraduate Engagement. Since we are now using a LibWizard form to collect reference and research consultation statistics, we are retiring the use of SUMA in our departments. The SUMA data linked below was archived on September 2, 2021, in case it needs to be consulted again. 

ARCHIVED RLI DATA FROM SUMA

If you would like to go back to this data to look at statistics to generate reports, you can use this link: 
http://suma.lib.uiowa.edu/suma/analysis/reports

The "RLI initiative" should still be available through that link. 

[Note: For memory's sake, Andrew Holland of LIT helped archive this data.]