ARL Statistics Questionnaire 2008-2009 · 103
Question 30. Presentations to Groups. Report the total number of sessions during the year of presentations made as part of formal
bibliographic instruction programs and through other planned class presentations, orientation sessions, and tours. If the library
sponsors multi-session or credit courses that meet several times over the course of a semester, each session should be counted.
Presentations to groups may be for either bibliographic instruction, cultural, recreational, or educational purposes. Presentations
both on and off the premises should be included as long as they are sponsored by the library. Do not include meetings sponsored
by other groups using library meeting rooms. Do not include training for library staff the purpose of this question is to capture
information about the services the library provides for its clientele. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
Question 31. Participants in Group Presentations. Report the total number of participants in the presentations reported on line
(30). For multi-session classes with a constant enrollment, count each person only once. Personal, one-to-one instruction in the use
of sources should be counted as reference transactions on line (32). Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling. Use a footnote
to describe any special situations.
Question 32. Reference Transactions. Report the total number of reference transactions. A reference transaction is
an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation,
or instruction in the use of one or more information sources by a member of the library staff.
The term includes information and referral service. Information sources include (a) printed
and nonprinted material (b) machine-readable databases (including computer-assisted
instruction) (c) the library’s own catalogs and other holdings records (d) other libraries and
institutions through communication or referral and (e) persons both inside and outside the
library. When a staff member uses information gained from previous use of information sources
to answer a question, the transaction is reported as a reference transaction even if the source is
not consulted again.
If a contact includes both reference and directional services, it should be reported as one reference transaction. Include virtual
reference transactions (e.g., e-mail, WWW form, chat). Duration should not be an element in determining whether a transaction is
a reference transaction. Sampling based on a typical week may be used to extrapolate TO A FULL YEAR for Question 32. Please
indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
EXCLUDE SIMPLE DIRECTIONAL QUESTIONS. A directional transaction is an information contact that facilitates the logistical
use of the library and that does not involve the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation, or instruction in the use of any
information sources other than those that describe the library, such as schedules, floor plans, and handbooks.
Questions 33-34. Circulation. For Question (33), count the number of initial circulations during the fiscal year from the general
collection for use usually (although not always) outside the library. Do not count renewals. Include circulations to and from remote
storage facilities for library users (i.e., do not include transactions reflecting transfers or stages of technical processing). Count the
total number of items lent, not the number of borrowers.
For Question (34), report total circulation for the fiscal year including initial transactions reported on line (33) and renewal
transactions. Exclude reserve circulations these are no longer reported.
Questions 35-36. Interlibrary Loans. Report the number of requests for material (both returnables and non-returnables) provided
to other libraries on line (35) and the number of filled requests received from other libraries or providers on line (36). On both lines,
include originals, photocopies, and materials sent by telefacsimile or other forms of electronic transmission. Include patron-initiated
transactions. Exclude requests for materials locally owned and available on the shelves or electronically. Do not include transactions
between libraries covered by this questionnaire.
Question 30. Presentations to Groups. Report the total number of sessions during the year of presentations made as part of formal
bibliographic instruction programs and through other planned class presentations, orientation sessions, and tours. If the library
sponsors multi-session or credit courses that meet several times over the course of a semester, each session should be counted.
Presentations to groups may be for either bibliographic instruction, cultural, recreational, or educational purposes. Presentations
both on and off the premises should be included as long as they are sponsored by the library. Do not include meetings sponsored
by other groups using library meeting rooms. Do not include training for library staff the purpose of this question is to capture
information about the services the library provides for its clientele. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
Question 31. Participants in Group Presentations. Report the total number of participants in the presentations reported on line
(30). For multi-session classes with a constant enrollment, count each person only once. Personal, one-to-one instruction in the use
of sources should be counted as reference transactions on line (32). Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling. Use a footnote
to describe any special situations.
Question 32. Reference Transactions. Report the total number of reference transactions. A reference transaction is
an information contact that involves the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation,
or instruction in the use of one or more information sources by a member of the library staff.
The term includes information and referral service. Information sources include (a) printed
and nonprinted material (b) machine-readable databases (including computer-assisted
instruction) (c) the library’s own catalogs and other holdings records (d) other libraries and
institutions through communication or referral and (e) persons both inside and outside the
library. When a staff member uses information gained from previous use of information sources
to answer a question, the transaction is reported as a reference transaction even if the source is
not consulted again.
If a contact includes both reference and directional services, it should be reported as one reference transaction. Include virtual
reference transactions (e.g., e-mail, WWW form, chat). Duration should not be an element in determining whether a transaction is
a reference transaction. Sampling based on a typical week may be used to extrapolate TO A FULL YEAR for Question 32. Please
indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
EXCLUDE SIMPLE DIRECTIONAL QUESTIONS. A directional transaction is an information contact that facilitates the logistical
use of the library and that does not involve the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation, or instruction in the use of any
information sources other than those that describe the library, such as schedules, floor plans, and handbooks.
Questions 33-34. Circulation. For Question (33), count the number of initial circulations during the fiscal year from the general
collection for use usually (although not always) outside the library. Do not count renewals. Include circulations to and from remote
storage facilities for library users (i.e., do not include transactions reflecting transfers or stages of technical processing). Count the
total number of items lent, not the number of borrowers.
For Question (34), report total circulation for the fiscal year including initial transactions reported on line (33) and renewal
transactions. Exclude reserve circulations these are no longer reported.
Questions 35-36. Interlibrary Loans. Report the number of requests for material (both returnables and non-returnables) provided
to other libraries on line (35) and the number of filled requests received from other libraries or providers on line (36). On both lines,
include originals, photocopies, and materials sent by telefacsimile or other forms of electronic transmission. Include patron-initiated
transactions. Exclude requests for materials locally owned and available on the shelves or electronically. Do not include transactions
between libraries covered by this questionnaire.
