1 / 14

Analysis of ReCAP Requests at Columbia University: Trends and Patron Behavior (2011)

This report delves into the Requests data from the ReCAP facility at Columbia University, analyzing the growth trends in request volume since its opening until FY11. Noteworthy findings include a total of 443,311 requests logged, with a shifting request pattern aligning with the academic calendar, and highlighting a net decline in volume during slower months. Graduate students and faculty show a higher engagement with offsite collections, indicating different usage behaviors among user groups. The impact of digital access on request patterns remains to be fully explored.

elewa
Download Presentation

Analysis of ReCAP Requests at Columbia University: Trends and Patron Behavior (2011)

An Image/Link below is provided (as is) to download presentation Download Policy: Content on the Website is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use and may not be sold / licensed / shared on other websites without getting consent from its author. Content is provided to you AS IS for your information and personal use only. Download presentation by click this link. While downloading, if for some reason you are not able to download a presentation, the publisher may have deleted the file from their server. During download, if you can't get a presentation, the file might be deleted by the publisher.

E N D

Presentation Transcript

  1. ReCAP DataPart 2: Requests Zack Lane ReCAP Coordinator July 2011 ReCAP Columbia University

  2. Findings: Requests • Request volume grew each year from the opening of ReCAP until FY09 • Since FY09 the total has grown very slowly • Impact of mass digitization is unknown • Monthly requests are in phase with the academic calendar • Net decline from busy to slow months is approximately 33% • Collections are increasingly renewed • Average user requests follow 80/20 rule ReCAP Columbia University

  3. Request Data • The terms request and retrieval are used interchangeably in most ReCAP documentation • ReCAP tracks retrievals; CUL tracks requests • There is not a one-to-one correspondence • Majority of data corresponds • Since granular data is available only for requests, ReCAP Coordinator uses it for analysis ReCAP Columbia University

  4. Request Data: Granularity • Barcode • Delivery Location • Default Delivery Location • Date • Time • Type • Patron Group • Bib ID • UNI • Hashed UNI • Format • Publishing Date • Language • Title • Holdings ID • Call Number • Enumeration/Chronology • Item ID • CLIO Location • Fiscal Year ReCAP Columbia University

  5. Request Data • 443,311 total requests since ReCAP opened • FY08 : 59,755 • FY09 : 69,060 • FY10 : 71,119 • FY11 : 71,513 • Includes both patron and staff requests • Excludes many staff requests • Represents only CUL activity at the ReCAP facility • Patron access to offsite collections is excellent: dynamic with few failures ReCAP Columbia University

  6. Charts ReCAP Columbia University

  7. Total Volume by Fiscal Year • Every year CUL accessions more collections at ReCAP • With more collections at ReCAP, patrons have requested more items • Data does not include some staff requests and the Google Book Project • Volume did not significantly increase between FY09 and FY10 • This may be attributable to increased renewal of offsite collections ReCAP Columbia University

  8. ReCAP Columbia University

  9. Circulation Activity of Offsite Collections • Chart compares total volume of charges to renewals for ReCAP collections • Graduate students and Faculty request more offsite collections than Undergraduates • Graduate students and especially Faculty have higher renewal/charge ratios • Over time, these two patron groups tend to renew more than charge • CUL may expect to see steady or decreasing request volume as a result ReCAP Columbia University

  10. ReCAP Columbia University

  11. Total Volume by Month • Request volume is in phase with the academic calendar • Busiest months • Fall: October-November • Spring: February-April • Reduced volume between terms in Winter and Summer • In FY11 the busiest and slowest months were: • October: 7,195 • May: 4,637 ReCAP Columbia University

  12. ReCAP Columbia University

  13. Patron Statistics • 32,965 patrons have placed at least one request • Most frequent requesters are staff, requesting for both patron and internal purpose • 9.8 requests per user (excluding top staff) • Dividing users into between 10+ and <10 • 10+ account for 17.3% of population and 78.3% of all requests • <10 account for 82.7% of population and 21.7% of all requests ReCAP Columbia University

  14. More Data Available • More information about data sets can be found on the ReCAP Data Center website • Primary data categories include: accession, retrieval, delivery and circulation • Tailored data sets and analysis will be provided to staff via the ReCAP Coordinator • Please see the main ReCAP website for general information about CUL procedures and systems ReCAP Columbia University

More Related