Making Online Instruction Count: Statistical Reporting of Web-Based Library Instruction Activities

Tim Bottorff is Head Librarian in the Universal Orlando Foundation Library at the University of Central Florida (Rosen College campus); e-mail: [email protected]. Andrew Todd is Reference Librarian, Regional Campus Libraries at the University of Central Florida (BCC/UCF Joint Use Library); e-mail: [email protected]. © Tim Bottorff and Andrew Todd Statistical reporting of library instruction (LI) activities has historically focused on measures relevant to face-to-face (F2F) settings. However, newer forms of LI conducted in the online realm may be difficult to count in traditional ways, leading to inaccurate reporting to both internal and external stakeholders. A thorough literature review is combined with the results of an investigative survey to reveal the current status of reporting such activities. The results reveal considerable confusion about the reporting of Web-based LI activities, even though a number of librarians are devoting significant amounts of time to this important and growing area of librarianship.