HIT: Patron Count, Part I

[Nancy Voltmer <voltmer@NETINS.NET>]

        Earlier in week I requested information from those that keep a
number count of their patrons. I want to thank all of you that responded
and the results are posted below with no names/identities.
________________
We do count (middle school). And we count everyone who is a user of the
library whether that means scheduling a class, picking up equipment, using
the computers, staying the whole period or for just a minute. We are not
required to keep these numbers, but I like having access to them. I do put
them in my monthly newsletter to staff, and we can definitely see the
correlation between research assignments throughout the building and library
use. We just use a number count and do not use a sign in.
__________________
I try to keep count - hash marks for all drop[in users
teachers and students alike and a number count for
scheduled use.  No one asked me to do this, but we are
getting ready for remodeling and I would like to be
able to quantify my needs:  space, seating, # of work
stations, etc.
__________________
I keep a number count for my statistics.  I have a sign-in sheet at the Help
Desk (circulation desk) where I collect my count for before, during, and
after school hours; I also count how many classes are in the library each
month and multiply by 20 (average which is easy to defend) to get a total of
the number of students coming with classes.  I feel this give both me and my
administration a pretty accurate look at how busy I am.
__________________
 All my students are supposed to sign in as they walk through the door, if
they are coming on an independent pass. This is so we know who is coming from
where, but it has also served the purpose of keeping a rough count of
library use
in addition to the circulation figures. It is not totally accurate as many slip
through without signing in and I don't make classes who come with their
teachers
sign in. The figures have served useful for grants and gaining a clerical aide
(paid for by an outside collaborative agency).
_________________
 I count the number of classes that are signed in
to use the library.  We also keep track of the number
of students who sign in on their own(without a class).
 Also keep track of whether the classes are signed up
for computer use or just classroom space.  We keep
track of the number of book carts we send to other
classrooms. We also include any presentations we do to
classes, such as researching skills.  I tally the
numbers on a monthly basis. The reason I started to
keep this count is that we heard someone in
administration made the comment that the library isn't
being used!
_________________
We're far too busy to be able to keep track of the number of students or
teachers who use the room. Let's not give anyone any ideas!!
_________________
I do all that you mentioned. I don't count those who drop off a book,
etc., but every other warm body is counted. The stats have come in handy the
past couple of years. My budget was going to be cut a couple of years ago
until I went armed with figures. Also, I had the "feeblest" computers in the
school unitil the technology committee saw how many kids came to us each
day. For the first 3 years that I kept stats no one looked at them. I often
thought, "What's the point?" This year both of my aides faced a cut. When I
went to board meeting with figures, I was able to keep both! Kids sign in
when they enter and leave. I keep tabls of class use, too.
_________________
Yes, we count the number of kids coming into our Media Center.

We have them sign in (we hae been able to catch kids cutting classes by
looking at our sign in sheet) whenever they come in to stay for a while. If
they just come in to return a book (or use our pencil sharpener) we don't
make the sign in).  Also, we don't count teachers coming in for equipment
(this happens rarely as most of the equipment is already in their rooms).

We use the numbers to show that we really are busier than people think.  My
principal gets a monthly report on individual and class usage as well as
circulation.  We want to be able to show that we need to provide more
"space" for serving more people at one time.  Part of this is to get new
shelving to be placed along the walls and open up our floor space.  I
already know that an addition to our room is not possible.
__________________
Yes, I keep a count of students using the library for whatever reason.
They could be coming to check out a book or researching for a class
assignment.  Of course all our students visiting individually must have a
pass to visit.  We have a sign-in sheet at our circulation desk for all
visiting students along side the basket they drop their passes off in.  At
the end of the month I tally the total number of students who have passed
through in a month.  We are on an eight block schedule so I also tally the
number of students who come here during SRT (student resource time).  In a
seven month period we have an average of 787 students individually
visiting the library each month.  There are 504 students total. In
addition, I have teachers sign in my lesson plan book when they want to
bring classes so that I can add up how many classes visit the library each
month.  I do not count those students in the total number of students
visiting the library--they're only counted as an individual class visit.
So the number is much higher for the number of students visiting the
library.  Our class visits average 30 per month.  Finally I oversee the
computer (30) lab across the hall.  The sign-up book for using that is in
my office along side our AV equipment sign-up book.  Teachers must sign-in
to use the lab and I keep records of this.  We are averaging 96 class a
month in there.  I keep all this in files on the computer.  On occasion I
show the statistics to my principal to let him know what is going on.  By
the way my secretary keeps statistics on the number of copies made in the
computer lab so we have an idea of paper use and toner needs.  The later
helps when I want toner and feel the general fund should help me purchase
them for the lab.  My principal passes my statistics on to the
superintendent as well.  Certainly, these statistics help in my annual
employee review when they realize how active we are.  And if we ever do a
building project, I feel sure that these statistics will lend credence to
the fact that we need more space.  Also I asked for a new AV equipment
line item in my budget this year and got it.  Think our statistics help
prove that we are catering to a lot of people in a variety of ways.  I
would be most interested in your results.  There may be a statistic I have
forgotten to gather which might be helpful.
___________________

Nancy Voltmer, Media Specialist         voltmer@netins.net
Saydel High School
Des Moines, Iowa

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