Random time sampling with self-observation for library cost studies: unit costs of reference questions

Area of Science:

• Library and Information Science
• Workforce Management

Background:

• Assessing the time allocation and associated costs of reference librarians is crucial for efficient library operations.
• Understanding the cost of different types of reference interactions can inform resource allocation and service improvement.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantify the average wage costs associated with different categories of reference questions.
• To evaluate the effectiveness of random time sampling with self-observation as a data collection method in library settings.

Main Methods:

• Utilized random alarm devices and a structured checklist to sample reference librarian working time.
• Categorized reference questions into mutually exclusive types (e.g., directional, extended).
• Applied average wage rates to calculated time percentages to determine cost per question type.

Main Results:

• Average wage cost for directional reference questions was $1.98.
• Average wage cost for extended reference queries was $4.57.
• Random time sampling demonstrated acceptable reliability with minimal service interference and data distortion.

Conclusions:

• Random time sampling with self-observation is a viable, low-cost method for library managers to assess staff time allocation.
• The findings provide a quantitative basis for understanding the financial implications of different reference service demands.