Type
Poster
Session Description
Many academic library staff are well used to tracking their interactions. Many academic library staff are also well used to leveraging data to demonstrate the value of the services they provide. In addition to tracking interactions in our reports to senior leadership, our data services group began reporting the requests we could not meet, such as: the workshops we couldn't deliver, consultations we couldn't provide, and projects we had to regretfully decline. We were not sure how our report detailing services we were unable to deliver would be received, but it was largely met with approval and encouragement, especially amongst colleagues in other library departments. Our group has begun tracking our denied requests more carefully to further demonstrate who and what is most impacted by the lean staffing of our unit.
This poster will share: 1. how we're tracking both our interactions and the requests we can't meet; 2. what we've found in our tracking thus far; and 3. some lessons learned that may help library staff interested in adopting this approach at their institutions.
Type of Library
University Library
Included in
Opportunities lost: Tracking denied service requests to advocate for more resources.
Hogan Ballroom (Rm 328)
Many academic library staff are well used to tracking their interactions. Many academic library staff are also well used to leveraging data to demonstrate the value of the services they provide. In addition to tracking interactions in our reports to senior leadership, our data services group began reporting the requests we could not meet, such as: the workshops we couldn't deliver, consultations we couldn't provide, and projects we had to regretfully decline. We were not sure how our report detailing services we were unable to deliver would be received, but it was largely met with approval and encouragement, especially amongst colleagues in other library departments. Our group has begun tracking our denied requests more carefully to further demonstrate who and what is most impacted by the lean staffing of our unit.
This poster will share: 1. how we're tracking both our interactions and the requests we can't meet; 2. what we've found in our tracking thus far; and 3. some lessons learned that may help library staff interested in adopting this approach at their institutions.