Evaluation of a Library Outreach Program to Research Labs

Abstract

The goal of this study was to conduct an outcomes-based evaluation of the National Cancer Institute-Frederick (NCI-F) Scientific Library's Laptop Librarian service, where librarians took a laptop and spent time in research buildings. The authors used statistics from the Laptop Librarian sessions, a NCI-F community-wide online survey, and in-person interviews to evaluate the service. The Laptop Librarian service increased the accessibility of librarians and saved patrons' time. Users gained useful information and expressed overall satisfaction with the service. The Laptop Librarian service proves to be a useful means for increasing access to librarians and providing users with necessary information at this government research facility.

KEYWORDS:

• Government libraries
• Laptop Librarian service
• library outreach
• outcomes-based evaluation
• outreach services
• research libraries

This project has been funded in whole with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute, National Institutes of Health, Department of Health and Human Services, under Contract No. HHSN261200800017C.

Notes

*Numbers are for 9/29/08 through 12/10/09.

**Several sessions not included because candy was involved, inflating numbers.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Marci D. Brandenburg

Marci D. Brandenburg, MS, MSI ([email protected]) is Biosciences Informationist, Wilson Information Services Corporation, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, P.O. Box B, Bldg. 549, Sultan Street, Frederick, MD 21702-1201.

Alan Doss

Alan Doss, MS ([email protected]) is Chemical Sciences Informationist, Wilson Information Services Corporation, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, P.O. Box B, Bldg. 549, Sultan Street, Frederick, MD 21702-1201.

Tracie E. Frederick

Tracie E. Frederick, MSLS ([email protected]) is Technology Informationist, Wilson Information Services Corporation, National Cancer Institute-Frederick, P.O. Box B, Bldg. 549, Sultan Street, Frederick, MD 21702-1201.