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Ref Analytics: Data Dictionary

What are required fields on the Add Transaction form?

The three required button fields are marked with red asterisks (*) and must be selected to submit the form. 

boxes showing multiple scrollable options for the question, method, and patron fields

 

Question/Activity

The Question/Activity is the field that describes what the patron needed help with. Options 1-10 correspond with questions and options 11-15 correspond with activities

Questions:

1. Multiple - Question falls under more than one type, or the patron has several unrelated questions.

2. General Information - Questions about library or university policies, spaces, hours, operations, and services.

3. Help/How to - Questions that involve showing "how-to", explaining a process, or providing instructions for using library services, equipment, and resources.

4. Research/Reference - Contacts that involve the knowledge, use, recommendations, interpretation, or instruction in the use of one or more information sources.

5. Service Request - The provision of library services according to our policies. It is not considered a question or reference interaction when a patron requests to use a service that is routinely offered in the scope of normal library operations. 

6. Tech Support/Printing - interactions resolving issues related to online resource access, technology, equipment, or printing services. 

7. Supplies Request - Any request for supplies that are not considered library resources. (e.g. staplers, tape, sticky notes) Supplies non-circulating which means that they may be given but not loaned for checkout. (Requests for supplies that we do not provide may also be recorded.)

8. Lost and Found - An inquiry made about a lost and found item or someone bringing a lost and found item for submission.

9. Hiring - Questions about available library jobs, or about the status of an application for a library position

10. Comment/Issue - Any complaint or comment about our policies, spaces, services, or resources.

Activities:

11. Consultation - One-on-one or small group appointments with students that are often scheduled in advance, occur outside of the classroom or a service point, and require staff preparation or equivalent previous relevant experience [ACRL Instructions and Definitions 2021].

12. Instruction/Presentation -

1. Instruction - Educational, information literacy, or subject-specific sessions given to a class or group, in an online or in-person setting.

2. Presentation - A demonstration of library resources, services, or programs. This term is used to discuss a range of presentations including instruction and outreach however, here it refers to general types of activities that occur both on and off the library premises and that are sponsored by the library. [NISO Z39.7-2013, 7.8.3]

13. Program/Workshop - An event organized or facilitated by library employees for the purpose of education or engagement. This includes exhibitions and events (including virtual events) typically with a literary or cultural intent. [NISO Z39.7-2013, 7.4]

14. Outreach/Event - An event organized or facilitated by library employees for the purpose of education or engagement. Unlike other programs, these events may be less structured and have attendees that come and go throughout the course of the event. 

15. Tour - A scheduled or unscheduled demonstration of the library, its spaces, services, and resources. 

16. Other - Any other questions or activities that do not fall into the listed categories. A note should be included to describe why the interaction did not meet the criteria to select a listed option. 

Method

The method is the method(s) of communication used. Those marked with an asterisk (*) are virtual methods.

  1. Multiple - Transactions that were conducted through multiple methods, including those that started in one place and continued in another.

  2. In-person - Transaction took place face-to-face or the activity was conducted by a library employee at a specific location such as the library or a classroom on campus.

  3. Phone - Transaction was initiated by a phone call.

  4. Chat* - Transaction was initiated virtually by a message to the library chat service.

  5. Email* - Transaction was initiated virtually in a message sent by email. 

  6. Text SMS* - Transaction was initiated virtually through through a text-based SMS message.

  7. Social Media* - Transaction was initiated on social media platform through contact to a library profile or account (e.g. Twitch, Discord, Twitter, etc.).

  8. Virtual Meeting* - Transaction took place in a virtual media setting such as a webinar or via video chat.

  9. Virtual Recorded* - The transaction was a recorded online session, tutorial, video, or other interactive educational module created in a digital/electronic format, that may include web-based presentations such as recorded webinars. Attendance may be recorded in views or by other metrics of participation. 

  10. Hybrid* (Virtual/In-person) - The activity took place in a physical setting such as a classroom or in the library, and it was offered in a "live" virtual setting for online participants. 

  11. Mail - Transactions by mail.

  12. Other - Any other transaction that does not fall into the listed categories.

Patron

The patron is the person asking the question or contacting the library. The best guess is selected when possible.

  1. Student (unknown) - A current UNT student with an unknown classification or status. 

  2. Undergraduate Student - A current UNT undergraduate student.

  3. Graduate Student - A current UNT graduate student.

  4. Faculty - A current UNT faculty or instructor.

  5. Staff - A current UNT staff member.

  6. Guest/Community - An individual who is not (and was not previously) affiliated with UNT.

    • Prospective students are considered guests until they are actively enrolled.

    • Vendors are not affiliated with UNT and generally interactions with vendors are not recorded in Ref. Analytics because they are not considered patrons. 

  7. Former Student - An individual who was previously enrolled at UNT, this includes alumni who graduates, and students who left UNT without completing their degree.

  8. Retired Faculty - Former faculty who retired from UNT.

  9. Class (internal note) - A patron group that is currently taking a class available at UNT.

  10. Student Group (internal note) - A group of students currently enrolled at UNT.

  11. Other Group (internal note) - A group not currently affiliated with UNT.

  12. Other - The patron's status is known but does not fall under one of the designated patron fields.

  13. Unknown - The patron's status is unknown and you cannot reasonably assume that they are a student from the context of the question.