Embedded Librarians and Reference Traffic: A Quantitative Analysis

ABSTRACT

In 2007, Capella University librarians began an embedded librarian pilot in the School of Psychology postgraduate 1st courses. Embedded librarian programs give librarians the opportunity to meet distance students in their natural habitats by participating in classroom instruction. This is a relatively new area in library research. An analysis of Capella's 2007 library reference traffic revealed a 400% jump in reference transactions with psychology students, coinciding with the introduction of the embedded librarian program. This study establishes a statistically significant relationship between the number of embedded librarian interactions in the classroom and the increased number of general reference transactions. While this study may provide an encouraging case for libraries considering an embedded program who want to advertise their help services, it might also provide a discouraging case study for libraries who hope to drive down general reference questions through embedded librarian initiatives. Potential for future research is discussed.

KEYWORDS:

• assessment
• embedded librarians
• reference