70 · ARL Statistics 2011–2012
Question 13c. Student Assistants. Report the total FTE (see Personnel, above) of student assistants employed
on an hourly basis whose wages are paid from funds under library control or from a budget other than the
library’s, including federal work-study programs.
Questions 14–15. Instruction. Sampling based on a typical week may be used to extrapolate TO A FULL YEAR.
Please indicate if responses are based on sampling.
Report figures for the following:
Question 14. 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
premi ses 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 15. Participants in Group Presentations. Report the total number of attendees in all group
presentations (as defined in Presentations to Groups, above). For multi-session classes with a constant enrollment,
count each person only once. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling. Use a footnote to describe any
special situations.
NOTE: Personal, one-to-one instruction in the use of sources should be counted as reference transactions as
described in the next section.
Question 16. 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 [or creation 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 materials
(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. [Note: this is a
modified ANSI/NISO Z39.7-2004 definition for an information request]
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. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
Question 13c. Student Assistants. Report the total FTE (see Personnel, above) of student assistants employed
on an hourly basis whose wages are paid from funds under library control or from a budget other than the
library’s, including federal work-study programs.
Questions 14–15. Instruction. Sampling based on a typical week may be used to extrapolate TO A FULL YEAR.
Please indicate if responses are based on sampling.
Report figures for the following:
Question 14. 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
premi ses 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 15. Participants in Group Presentations. Report the total number of attendees in all group
presentations (as defined in Presentations to Groups, above). For multi-session classes with a constant enrollment,
count each person only once. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling. Use a footnote to describe any
special situations.
NOTE: Personal, one-to-one instruction in the use of sources should be counted as reference transactions as
described in the next section.
Question 16. 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 [or creation 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 materials
(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. [Note: this is a
modified ANSI/NISO Z39.7-2004 definition for an information request]
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. Please indicate if the figure is based on sampling.
