Data released by Texas A&M-San Antonio’s library points toward growth in instructional services, collections and student satisfaction during 2014.
The university library’s annual report, released in August 2015, shows a 15 percent increase since 2013 in the amount of reference and directional questions, as well as a substantial increase in circulation.
“In the age of Google, students and faculty are using academic libraries more than ever,” reports the American Library Association.
“During a typical week, academic libraries had more than 31 million searches in electronic databases, answered more than 469,000 reference questions and made more than 12,000 group presentations attended by more than 219,000 students and faculty,” the association reports.
Head librarian Stephanie Wittenbach said she’s not required to submit an annual report to any agency, but data supplied by the report proves useful to track improvement and provide better student services.
“We use the data to see where we are having an impact,” Wittenbach said.
In one case, results showed that students arrived an hour earlier than the library opened each morning. This observation was brought to the attention of University Provost Brent Snow and resulted in changing the facility hours to fit students’ schedules. Students may now enter the library at 8 a.m to begin their day as opposed to 9 a.m.
Wittenbach said the librarians analyze the numbers to track student use and then make necessary changes to further benefit students. The library has provided data for Southern Association of Colleges and Schools’ review.
More and more libraries, faced with flat or declining budgets, must seek to demonstrate the value of their libraries.
On a national scale, public university libraries reported budget cuts as well as reduced spending and staff, according to the American Library Association.
Here on campus, students react positively to library services.
“I enjoy this library because it is less crowded than other colleges and they are so polite here,” said junior history major Tommy Vasquez.
“I’m one of the few students who doesn’t have Internet at home, so I’ll come here to research for my papers or I’ll go in and read my books because it’s quiet,” he said.
Institutional data can also be used to justify new expenditures to benefit student learning.
This year’s resources include $87,500 for new databases and electronic journals. The library hopes for additional funding next year. Funding depends on enrollment and other factors.
Despite a flat budget, Wittenbach said that the circulation grew, primarily by donations. Donations included nearly 9,000 books from the Harry W. Mazal library. Harry W. Mazal’s collection of books encompassed the holocaust. The books were donated by Mazal’s daughter, Aimee Mazal Skillin and his wife, Jerry Mazal.
Library collections totaled 12,332 physical items. Two hundred and seventy-seven gift volumes were received as well as new archives and special collections materials including books from Ruben Perez, Dale Patenaude and others.
The University Library 2014 Academic Year Annual report showed an overall decrease in the number of live, online chat questions and issued TexShare cards, which allows borrowing from more than 500 participating libraries across the state. The report also showed an overall increase in circulation, in-class instruction and student satisfaction.
“The data shows change year over year with our actual contact with people and determines where we are having an impact,” Wittenbach said.
“The past year saw an increase in course specific instruction, both in-person and embedded within Blackboard,” the report states.
According to the 2014 Annual report, the campus library has flourished this year despite it being short a librarian and a flat budget. Since the Madla building has been in use it has grown as a facility that aids student successes by more than just books.
Instruction went up when new Arts and Sciences librarian, Emily Bliss-Zaks, reached out to faculty and increased the number of instruction sessions, as well as one-on-one appointments.
The data shows the library hopes to attract more students to its beneficial tools by expanding its services across multiple service areas.
Although monetarily many libraries struggle, this obstacle sparked a movement. Library supporters promote libraries as “Vital to student success.” Librarians and staff monitor legislation that are in favor or hinder public university libraries according to the American Library Association website.
“We are pleased with the data from fiscal year 2014 over all. We continue to see strong use of library, there was some questions as to where the library would be utilized despite other areas students can use to study” Wittenbach said.
The report also shows methods the library uses to increase student engagement.
Authors and guest speakers occasionally visit the library to provide workshops for students. such as “Power of the Presentation”, which educated students on how to deliver a presentation to an audience.
Although the number of visitors showed little growth in the last fiscal year, student assistance and equipment use grew by 8.26 percent. The previous fiscal year had a flat budget yet still increased collections largely due to donations.
A&M-San Antonio chapter of the National Society of Leadership and Success awarded the librarians and library staff and Excellence in Service to Students Award for achieving a 96% on student satisfaction.
“There has been an increase on tours for prospective students as well as an increase in circulation,” Wittenbach said.
Wittenbach said library staff are researching data for 2015 and will release the data later this year. This will include a spreadsheet for A&M system schools tracking their expenditures and comparing them to other A&M peer institutions throughout the fiscal year as well as an overall progress report.
