One of the things that computers do best is crunch numbers (process data). So why do so many library reference desks have a computer for searching for information and helping patrons, but still make tally marks on a clipboard to document how many patrons are coming to them for help? That was the case at Butler University when I came here in February, and one of my first projects was to design an interface for collecting that data electronically.

I used MS Excel and made a front page with buttons, each button assigned to a macro that took a timestamp and added 1 to the column for the appropriate type of transaction. I’m pleased to say that it’s working well, everyone has gotten used to it, and it makes reporting a SNAP! If you have it generating totals or averages for you, you can set up automatic charts and tables. That works great in Excel! Or if you need data from a particular week, you can just highlight the data and look at the “Sum” function that displays in the bottom right of your screen to get your count.

Anyone who has questions about how to set up something like this or who wants to look at an example is welcome to email me. I can talk to you about it and/or send you an Excel file so you can see how it works.

Technology IS a huge help, if we work hard at letting it be so.