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Makerspace Staff Guide

What to know when you staff a makerspace desk

Makerspace Machinery Stats

Machine loans are tracked through AI reservations, so properly checking out/in machines in AI is crucial for our data collection.

  • Please note, in AI new reservations cannot be made for the current hour after it has started, BUT the reservation can be edited after.
    • For example, if someone comes in at 1:05 p.m., you cannot reserve the 1 o’clock hour. Instead, you can make a reservation starting at 2 p.m. then modify the loan start time to 1 p.m. Screenshots for this process are in the document below. 
    • Please make these adjustments as necessary so that we get as close to accurate stats as possible.

DART Makerspace Stats

 

The DART system allows PPLD to track patron interactions and collect data such as where patrons are most likely to ask staff questions and what times are the busiest.  

DART is used at each makerspace location to track reference and non-reference questions. See the chart below for a reminder on the differences between the two types of questions.

 

DART Question Type

Examples

General Definition

Non-Reference

New cards / Card renewals

Check-out / Check-in

Account help and billing

Computer, equipment, or room reservations

Direction to the bathroom

Basic computer and printing help

Providing basic library information, like hours

Common requests that can be handled without accessing an additional information source. Requires only standard knowledge for staff.

 

Reference

Advanced computer help, like using makerspace software

Demo / Instruction on using equipment or a tool

Reader's advisory

Research assistance, such as using databases or LibGuides

Assisting / Instructing a patron on using eLibrary or personal device

More complex requests which require staff to recommend, interpret, evaluate and/or use information resources (including their own personal knowledge) in order to meet the patron's needs.