LIBRARY STATISTICS
Research Consultations
USG Priddy Library received over 700 consultation and reference questions. Consultations are primarily one-to-one in-depth research assistance provided by subject specialist liaison librarians. Librarians and staff spent 236 hours working with students (undergraduate/graduate) and faculty to meet their research needs.
The University of Maryland, Baltimore (UMB) and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County (UMBC) offer programs which have some of the highest enrollment numbers at USG. These programs (nursing, psychology, and social work) also tend to have assignments that require library research. This is certainly demonstrated in the number of student requests received by Institution.
Requests by Question Type/Service Method
The re-opening of USG/Priddy Library saw an increase in the number of directional and technical assistance questions. In fact all request types were higher at the start of the Fall semester, which for many was their first time on campus in over a year.
Instruction and Workshops
Librarians and staff delivered 82 instruction and outreach sessions, reaching 939 people. Though some classes continued virtually, resuming classes in-person resulted in almost twice as many in-class instruction requests, bringing up attendance numbers as well. Despite workshops offered both in-person and virtual, the number of workshops was slightly lower than the previous fiscal year, as were the number of attendees.
Subject Guides
Research/course guides continue to be a valuable resource for students and faculty. Not surprisingly, usage numbers are highest at the start of the Fall semester when the majority of new students start their programs.
Curbside Pick-up
While overall loan numbers remained well below FY19, FY22 saw higher circulation than any period since the pandemic began, and the up-and-down trends have moved closer to those of FY19 & 20. We’ve also introduced new technology for loan, including wireless chargers for phones and mobile devices, as well as Oculus Rift S virtual reality headsets.
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Usage of our curbside pickup service has been much lower now that patrons can enter and borrow items directly from the Service Desk, but we continue to receive requests, and patrons who have made use of it have been appreciative of the convenience.
The Coordinator for Access Services & Acquisitions also helped lead the USMAI policy shift to end daily overdue fines on most items in consortial collections, which has now been implemented at Priddy Library and at all partner institution libraries.
