Information desk referrals: Implementing an office statistics database

Abstract

In fall 2006, Colorado State University Libraries in Fort Collins, Colorado, underwent an administrative reorganization. Part of this reorganization involved changing Morgan Libraries' Reference Desk to an Information Desk from which staff and student assistants would provide reference referrals to librarians. To gather statistics and track the success of this new service, the College Liaison Librarians, formerly known as Subject Librarians, implemented an office statistics database to record and track referrals received in their offices from Information Desk staff. This data-base evolved to also provide a centralized online area to collect numbers of office reference transactions.This paper discusses the reasons behind the office statistics database's creation and the statistics it provides CSU Libraries College Liaison Librarians.