[LIBRARYDIR] Gate Counters

[Guidry, Wade]

If you do have gate counters, one useful tip I’d suggest is to reality-check the accuracy, by having someone do a manual count for a couple of hours at a time and compare to the gate counter count. At a previous library where I worked, we had mechanical turnstile counters (quite old) that were off by as much as 15%. We replaced those electronic, laser-based counters, which were still less accurate than manual counting. But only by 2% or 3% plus or minus.

Even if staff use the same entrances as patrons, the numbers can be useful to identify trends, and also as supporting evidence when you want to make changes to library hours.


Wade Guidry
Library Consortium Services Manager, WACTCLC
wadeg at bigbend.edu<mailto:wadeg at bigbend.edu>
(509) 760-4474
http://www.wactclc.org<http://www.wactclc.org/>

From: LIBRARYDIR <librarydir-bounces at lists.ctc.edu> On Behalf Of Dawn Marie Lowe-Wincentsen via LIBRARYDIR
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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Gate Counters

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At my previous college we used these: https://sensourceinc.com/?gclid=CjwKCAjw-sqKBhBjEiwAVaQ9a3GsDZts2lu6dFmbXMCJKOxJ4oE0iTGJsIFAoSw6YCqSw94jm5dSkBoCOMsQAvD_BwE
In addition we did headcounts to compare the data of who came and sat all day to the passers by. Taking both was very helpful in making arguments to administration as to what hours and types of use the library was getting.
At Shoreline the security gates are of dubious functionality. However, there are sensors that track people coming in and out at a couple of locations. The data is taken each morning. As we just reopened and are getting less than 10 people per day, I have not pushed for headcounts.
Dawn Lowe-Wincentsen, MLIS
Associate Dean of Library and Learning Resources
Dlowe-wincentsen at shoreline.edu<mailto:Dlowe-wincentsen at shoreline.edu>

Shoreline Community College
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On Tue, Sep 28, 2021 at 11:57 AM Bem, Greg via LIBRARYDIR <librarydir at lists.ctc.edu<mailto:librarydir at lists.ctc.edu>> wrote:
I’m curious what data you get from gates or non-gates actually gets used. People walking in and out (including the library team) really distorts the numbers.

We do a headcount in the library that contributes to actual bodies in the library throughout the day. While it doesn’t give a total the way a gate would, it still helps us tell our stories on library use and make data-informed decisions.

Greg Bem, MLIS
Faculty Library Coordinator
Library Learning Commons
Lake Washington Inst. Of Technology
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Subject: Re: [LIBRARYDIR] Gate Counters

I am interested in this question as well. We are looking at getting rid of our security gates, but need to have a counter in place first.

Heath Ray Hayden, MLIS, MA
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Subject: [LIBRARYDIR] Gate Counters

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Hi all,



The gate counter on our security gates quit working. The security still works thankfully.  What are you using for gate counters if not a security gate?



Thanks,

Erica
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