E-Tracking Reference Statistics

Desk Statistics Record Sheet

If you want to turn manually recording of Reference Desk statistics into digital, read this article, "How to Build a Desk Statistics Tracker in Less Than an Hour Using Forms in Google Docs" by Sunshine Carter and Thomas Ambrosi  from the University of Minnesota–Duluth. The article provided detailed instructions on how to create a form for your library.  It would be better and more helpful if Google Docs form provided more functions for data collection and analysis.

My New Article

Fall Mood

Supporting Evidence-Based Medicine: A Survey of U.S. Medical Librarians, Medical Reference Services Quarterly 2011, 30:4, 365-38.
The most challenging part was to content analyze the three open-ended questions. But we did it!

Contact me if you are interested in the article.

No More Library Workshops!

Does your library experience low attendance rate to your library workshops? As a librarian instructor, you have worked so hard to get people to attend your workshops, but still  not much improvement. Does that mean your patrons do not need the information? Does that mean library workshops have no value to your library community? Librarians all know that is not the case. Here is an innovative way to make some changes: No more workshops in the library! One-on-one and on demand instructional sessions instead.

I look at this as a patron driven change and another level of providing library instruction. I can certainly see some of the advantages of one-on-one or on demand sessions:

• Fit into the patron's schedule
• Deliver content based on individual's needs or at the point of need
• Provide a conformable environment to ask questions -- patrons
• Reduce the tense of speaking in public -- librarians

I believe it's time to make a change for better or worse depending on what you think and what content you want to deliver. It might be more effective to turn those workshops that have hands on components into one-on-one sessions. 

Want to Start an iPad Program for a Library?

Yesterday I attended the ALA Webinar, Integrating iPads and Tablets Computers into Library Services (1). I  think the presenters did a great job. I hope MLA hosts a similar webcast to show successful iPad programs in health sciences libraries. At least one thing I learned from the webinar was that librarians need to ask questions before setting up a tablet program for their library:

• What's it for? Is it for staff development, in-house use such as in class, or for circulating them to library patrons?
• What content are you going to load on the device? Content would include apps and tools related to patron needs.
• Do you have technical support for the program? 
• How are you going to train library staff to provide frontline support for the program?

If you already have a tablet program in your library, what's your thought so far? 

Taking Photos Using an iPhone

Want to take good pictures using an iPhone? Here is my experience:

1. Composition: You are not taking a photo, you are creating one! -- Creative!
2. Light: Make full use of natural light as iPhone doesn't provide any supplemental light - Critical! 
3. Focus: Tab the object, zoom, focus, and shot - Sharp! 
4. Stillness: Hold a deep breath and be as still as possible when pushing the photo button 
5. Some of my photos taken with an iPhone: