Public Services in Special Collections · 125
Pennsylvania State University
Collection Use Statistics. Forms are provided via email for each covered week, copied, and placed
at the appropriate desk(s).
What are ARL Statistics?
ARL Statistics is a series of annual publications that describe the collections, expenditures, staffing,
and service activities for the member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries. Statistics
have been collected and published annually for the members of the Association since 1961-62.
Before that, annual statistics for university libraries were collected by James Gerould, first at
Minnesota and later at Princeton. These data cover the years 1907-08 through 1961-62 and are
now called the Gerould statistics. The whole data series from 1908 to the present represents the
oldest and most comprehensive continuing library statistical series in North America. Printed copies
are available from the ARL Publications Program.
The Reference Statistics are collected at the front desk and the reference desk, while the
Collection Use Statistics are only collected at our reference desk. At the end of the collection
periods the statistics are added together and entered into the Library ARL Statistics Site. Reference
Statistics are entered under the category Reference Transaction In House/Telephone, and
Collection Use Statistics are entered under the category In House Use. Even though we count the
number of Troubleshooting, Where is…..and Policy &Service questions, they are NOT entered on
the ARL database, but compiled for in-house use by the Public Service Department of the library.
Copies of all ARL statistics are kept by the person in Special Collections designated to work with
the statistics throughout the year. The registration forms are distributed when the count is taken
and returned to the individual units.
Web Statistics via URCHIN
At the present time this particular source of statistics is available to one Special Collections staff
member to view using their log-in and a specially created password provided by I-Tech. Urchin
records all “hits” or successful requests to our web server from a visitor’s browser for any type of
file. While the numbers recorded are large, one single web page can cause many hits – one for
each image included on the page, etc.
After discussion, I would envision this field being added to our statistics database and recorded on
a monthly basis.
Maintaining
Registrations Forms
When all statistical information is taken from the registration forms they are returned to the unit
department head.
Automated Circulation
Slips generated through SIRSI are stapled to the registration form, and both are returned to the
unit department head
Reporting
As explained in previous paragraphs, reporting of statistics is primarily only done upon request for
ARL purposes or for faculty/staff projects.
Pennsylvania State University
Collection Use Statistics. Forms are provided via email for each covered week, copied, and placed
at the appropriate desk(s).
What are ARL Statistics?
ARL Statistics is a series of annual publications that describe the collections, expenditures, staffing,
and service activities for the member libraries of the Association of Research Libraries. Statistics
have been collected and published annually for the members of the Association since 1961-62.
Before that, annual statistics for university libraries were collected by James Gerould, first at
Minnesota and later at Princeton. These data cover the years 1907-08 through 1961-62 and are
now called the Gerould statistics. The whole data series from 1908 to the present represents the
oldest and most comprehensive continuing library statistical series in North America. Printed copies
are available from the ARL Publications Program.
The Reference Statistics are collected at the front desk and the reference desk, while the
Collection Use Statistics are only collected at our reference desk. At the end of the collection
periods the statistics are added together and entered into the Library ARL Statistics Site. Reference
Statistics are entered under the category Reference Transaction In House/Telephone, and
Collection Use Statistics are entered under the category In House Use. Even though we count the
number of Troubleshooting, Where is…..and Policy &Service questions, they are NOT entered on
the ARL database, but compiled for in-house use by the Public Service Department of the library.
Copies of all ARL statistics are kept by the person in Special Collections designated to work with
the statistics throughout the year. The registration forms are distributed when the count is taken
and returned to the individual units.
Web Statistics via URCHIN
At the present time this particular source of statistics is available to one Special Collections staff
member to view using their log-in and a specially created password provided by I-Tech. Urchin
records all “hits” or successful requests to our web server from a visitor’s browser for any type of
file. While the numbers recorded are large, one single web page can cause many hits – one for
each image included on the page, etc.
After discussion, I would envision this field being added to our statistics database and recorded on
a monthly basis.
Maintaining
Registrations Forms
When all statistical information is taken from the registration forms they are returned to the unit
department head.
Automated Circulation
Slips generated through SIRSI are stapled to the registration form, and both are returned to the
unit department head
Reporting
As explained in previous paragraphs, reporting of statistics is primarily only done upon request for
ARL purposes or for faculty/staff projects.
