Painter, Joy A.

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Transactions
Joy Painter, Physics & Astronomy Librarian, Caltech
California Institute of Technology © 2016
Roving Reference: Geting out in the Wild
Caltech Library
I used this sign when I roved
No other librarians participated
Roved with my laptop
Spent most roving time with 
physics colection
For four months I recorded and categorized my interactions with 
people during my 4 hours of weekly reference. Half of my time
was spent roving while the other half I spent siting at the reference
desk. I assigned a READ scale value to each transaction. These 
interactions showed that the majority of questions asked during my 
time at the reference desk could be answered by circulation staf. 
The interactions I had with people while roving were very fruitful and
I learned quite a bit about how people at Caltech interact with our 
colections.
Introduction
How?
READ Scale Statistics
READ Scale
1 = directions, hours, printing
2 = item locaitons, library policies
3 = instructions on databases, use of reference resources, 
   online searching, more complex technical issues
4 = more in depth questions requiring time
5 = requires reference and subject knowledge. Includes access 
   issues and consultation may take considerable time
How Asked? StatisticsRoving
75% READ Scale ≥3
Reference Desk
57% READ Scale ≤2
Conclusions
Roving reference is viable as long as referals are made 
from the circ desk. 
A combined service point makes a lot of sense for my 
library
Reference desk gets general questions. Move into a 
subject colection and you’l get subject questions.
I initiated most of the interactions and transactions
I was able to register new library patrons in TIND, our 
circulation system, with my laptop
Most of the true reference questions I answer come from 
emails
When I was roving at the physics colection I answered 
a lot of questions from people in physics, especialy 
students
Some people are not going to ask at the reference desk
and are happier to be approached in the colection, away 
from the formality of the desk
Wearing ID and identifying yourself is a must
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I don’t use reserves. Those books 
are online. I come to the library to get 
the books my advisor used when he was 
a student
André Joyal, "Free bicomplete 
categories", Math. Rep., Acad. Sci. Canada, 
Vol. XVII, No. 5, October 1995, p. 219-225
How do I access ejournals from off campus?
I don’t like searching with these 
iPads. Topology of Fiber Bundles is 
impossible to find in the new catalog
Is there an ebook of CCD Astronomy 
that’s not ebrary?
There are no books with this call 
number on the shelf? 
The ebooks on your website don’t work. 
It looks like I can download PDFs 
but then I can’t
Has Physics Reports been cancelled? 
What journals have been cancelled?
Where are the bathrooms?
Where is the 3D printing class?
Can I use your computer?
Can you order x book? 
I have the ebook and I need to see the print.
Where are the staplers?
The flat bed scanner isn’t connected
to the workstation.
Can I get my wife a library card?
I need to order Abu-Mostafa’s Learning 
from Data textbook. Where can I get it?
References: Gerlich, Bela K. "READ Scale Research." READ Scale Research. Web. 02 June 2016. <htp:/readscale.org/read-scale.html>


Roving Reference: Getting out in the Wild

https://authors.library.caltech.edu/68530/1/SLA%202016%20all%20science.pdf

Roving Reference: Getting out in the Wild

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