Searching for Missing Books: Improving Efficiency and Pulling Books Out of the Black Hole

This session will show how Washington University Library staff responded to patron concerns about missing books by updating ineffective searching procedures to a vastly more efficient and comprehensive process that resulted in a substantial increase in the number of books found and positive responses from patrons. We will demonstrate how to implement a comprehensive search strategy, build straightforward lists in Millennium, and work with other departments to streamline withdrawal & re-purchase processes. Some of the strategies involved include using call number permutations lists and data analysis to target searching efforts. We will also show how to identify the best student workers for searching and how to motivate them.