Why Wufoo? Collecting Data about Reference Desk Transactions Using an Online Form Builder

 

Martha Hardy, MLIS and Lisa McGuire, MLIS

 

Program Objective

This poster describes a pilot project in an academic health sciences library in which we use an online form generated with Wufoo to record both the data about reference desk transactions that is necessary to report to external agencies and the data necessary to support evidence-based decision making about library management and services.

 

Methods

Previously, data about reference desk transactions was manually recorded on paper during three, weeklong sample periods, from which annual statistics were extrapolated. We selected Wufoo because it is a low cost, versatile Internet application that enables people with minimal knowledge of HTML to easily and efficiently create online forms. We created an online form with which library staff record data about all reference desk transactions, including the medium (phone, in-person, instant message), the length of the transaction, question type, and optional notes or comments.

 

Results

Since we began using Wufoo to collect data about reference desk transactions in March, 2007, we have already used the collected data to inform decisions about library services and management, such as changes to our reference desk hours and staffing. A continuing challenge is reconciling the disparate definitions of terms and criteria required by ARL and AAHSL. Also, because the built-in Wufoo reports are not very robust, data must be exported from the Wufoo server to Excel in order to create appropriate and useful reports. Even so, we find Wufoo useful enough that we now use it to collect data about instruction sessions, literature searches, and consultations, to create online forms to embed in our Web site, and for internal communication forms.

 

Conclusion

Wufoo is an easy, powerful, low cost and flexible tool that libraries can use to easily create online forms to collect data about their activities and services. Because it is not onerous to capture every transaction, we are able to capture more data and better data about reference desk activities. Other health sciences libraries should consider using Wufoo to capture data about their services.

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