[Yulpub] Reference and instruction transactions

[Bauer, Kathleen]

Hello,
As we start a new semester it is a good time to remind ourselves to record information about reference and instruction interactions with patrons. Reference interactions should still be entered on the web form which most of you already use. Mike Friscia has now created a desktop form (works on PC's only) which can also be used to record transactions. We've added functionality to record instruction sessions in the desktop application. Please note that we are no longer doing reference sampling.

It can sometimes be a fuzzy line between reference and instruction transactions, since many reference transactions include some type of instruction. The clearest rule to follow is that a one-on-one session, done by appointment or drop in, is counted as reference. You can use the time element to reflect that the reference transaction was more lengthy than most, and you can use the notes field to record what the transaction was about.  

Alice Peterson-Hart (Alice.peterson-hart at yale.edu) will be glad to answer questions and provide support for instruction and reference data entry and use. 

1. Web form for reference transactions:
http://resources.library.yale.edu/reftrack/
Definitions https://collaborate.library.yale.edu/usability/Service%20Tracker%20Codebooks/general.docx

2. Desktop application for recording instruction sessions and reference interactions (for PC's only)
Go to http://apps.library.yale.edu/ and select Reftrack Desktop to install the application.
Definitions for categories: https://collaborate.library.yale.edu/usability/Service%20Tracker%20Codebooks/yul_instruction.docx
Mike Friscia will eventually put the instruction entry option into the web form, but for right now instruction can only be entered using the desktop form.

Thanks,
Katie Bauer