For EVERY interaction with a patron:

Make sure you start with the right date/time stamp. It will automatically apply current date/time. It’s okay to go back and enter in old stats as long as you make sure to edit the date/time.

For EVERY interaction with a patron, you are also required to fill in the boxed options:

We want to make sure we have consistency, so let’s clarify a few of these options…

PATRON TYPE

Pretty straightforward. One note:

You don’t have to actually ask someone what type of patron they are. If they volunteer information that allows you to discern this, choose the right category. If not, err on the side of caution and side “Unknown”

METHOD & DURATION

Also straightforward. Moving on …

Type of Question

Here’s the part where things can get tricky.

Let’s go through these and then try them out.

Type of QuestionGeneral Library Questions about library's facilities, spaces, policies, procedures

Print/Copy/Scan

Any questions about using the printers, copier, or scanner. Includes color printing.

Log-In Any questions about logging in to the network, either on wifi or via guest access.

Basic Research Any questions that involve you helping the patron locate, retrieve, or access information. Basic questions should be fairly straightforward and short. These are the types of interactions where you give someone a bit of guidance and then they handle the rest on their own. If you select this category, you must include details (course, subjects, etc) about the interaction in the Question and Answer fields.

Advanced Research

Any questions that involve you helping the patron locate, retrieve, or access information. Advanced questions require more complex, long interactions. They may involve more guidance through the search process, or searching multiple resources. They also should include questions that get referred to a librarian for additional support. If you select this category, you must include details (course, subject, etc) about the interaction in the Question and Answer fields.

Citation Help Questions that deal with the ethical and legal use of information resources. Can include questions about MLA, APA, other citaiton styles, using and citing images, etc.

Technology Help

Questions that deal with technology (besides the printer/copier/scanner machine). Can include Office applications, Moodle. etc.

Other Any other questions that don't easily fit into one of these categories. If you select this category, you must include details about the interaction in the Question and Answer fields.

Let’s try it out! How would you categorize these questions and interactions?

Where is the bathroom?

Where can I send a fax?

Does the library have any books on cd?

Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Where is the bathroom?Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Does the library have any books on cd?

Where can I send a fax?

These are all questions about the library’s resources, services, or spaces. Even if you had to look them up to be sure – mark them as General Library.

Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Can you help me find sources for my thesis?

How can I print multiple PowerPoint slides on one page?

How can I download this ebook from the library?

Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Can you help me find sources for my thesis?

How can I print multiple PowerPoint slides on one

page?

How can I download this ebook from the

library?

If someone is working on a thesis or large ongoing project, most times they are asking an advanced research question.

Questions about PowerPoint or downloading, loading, viewing, saving, email, or bookmarking materials are technology help questions.

Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Can you help me find sources for my paper? Discuss topic and recommend that they start with PRIMO. They seem comfortable with that and go run the search on their own.

Can you help me find sources for my paper? Discuss topic and recommend that they start with PRIMO. You stand together and run some searches. You help them email sources to themselves and recommend another resource for follow-up.

Your options:

General Library

Print/Copy/Scan

Log-In

Basic Research

Advanced Research

Citation Help

Technology Help

Other

Can you help me find sources for my paper?Discuss topic and recommend that they start with PRIMO. They seem comfortable with that and go run the search on their own.

Can you help me find sources for my paper?Discuss topic and recommend that they start with PRIMO. You stand together and run some searches. You help them email sources to themselves and recommend another resource for follow-up.

There will always be questions that don’t easily fit into these categories – or questions that fit into two or three of these categories.

Use your best judgment to follow these guidelines and attempt to keep our categorization as consistent as possible.

ASSISTANCE

Who was involved with the interaction?• No assistance needed: You answered the question on your own without having to ask another person

for assistance.• Librarian assisted with ?: You worked with a librarian or library staff member and together answered

the question. Please indicate the name of the Librarian or Library staff member in the Question and Answer fields.

• Referred to a librarian: You were not able to answer the question on your own, and a librarian was not instantly available for assistance, so you referred the question to a librarian to be answered later. Please indicate the name of the Librarian or Library staff member in the Question and Answer fields.

• Referred to circulation: You directed the patron to the circulation desk for an answer.• Other: Any other type of situation. Please include details about this in the Question and Answer fields.

Okay, let’s talk about other parts of the form.

The Question field: Required for each transaction!

Make life easier: Click on the icon next to the question field to quickly select from a list of commonly asked questions

The Answer field: Required for research and “other” questions

This is the space where you will fill in necessary details for us to make sense of more complicated, unique interactions. Whenever possible, include pertinent details such as:• Course number/name• Professor name• Subject area• If it was following up from a class visit/library instruction

You also may notice a checkbox about including the transaction in the public knowledge base.

This new LibStats form has the ability to seamlessly enter questions into BUAnswers .. But we’re not quite there yet!

At this point in time, we ask that you leave this box unchecked and continue to enter BUAnswers questions manually without using this shortcut.

Submit: Enters transaction but will keep your answers in boxed fields. Allows you to more easily enter multiple similar transactions.

Submit & Clear:Enters transaction and clears all fields, so you start with a clean form.

One last thing you should know:

This form connects automatically with LibChat!

With an external chat, you will see the second icon says “Add to Analytics”

LibChat & LibStats

Clicking on the icon will bring up a menu that allows you to fill out the LibStats form within the LibChat window!

Remember, you are still required to fill in the drop-down options for ever transaction!

Okay, so that’s the form! If you have questions or suggestions, contact Amanda.