Library and Cultural Services are committed to delivering excellent customer service and we continually look to improve our performance to ensure we meet the needs of our users. To do this we set ourselves challenging targets and each year measure our progress against these.
The following table shows our performance between the period of 1st April - 31st March for the last two years.
If you have any feedback or suggestions on what you'd like our service standards to be, please contact us to let us know.
Response Times
| Our Commitment | Target | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| We will provide a welcoming and accessible library environment with 99% of building defects or cleanliness issues reported to the University Estates Helpdesk within one working day of us becoming aware. | 99% | 97% | 100% | |
| We will acknowledge all email enquiries received via libline@essex.ac.uk within 2 hours and will send a personalised response within 3 working days. | 100% | 98% | 98% | |
| We will claim 98% of all live chats within 1 minute. | 98% | 99% | 94%1 | |
| Where a voicemail is left we will respond within 1 working day. | 98% | - | 100%2 | |
| We will respond to 90% of texts to the Colchester Noiseline within 15 minutes of receipt during staffed hours. | 90% | 89% | 73%3 | |
| We will resolve 80% of Library & Cultural Services enquiries received at the Helpdesk or via chat at the first point of contact. | 80% | 99% | 99% | |
| All items returned to the library will be reshelved within 72 hours. | 90% | 100% | 100%4 | |
| We will make 90% of inter-campus loan requests available within 10 working days. | 90% | 96% | 99% | |
| We will provide an initial response within 3 working days to 90% of all comments, suggestions and complaints. | 90% | 100% | 100%5 | |
| We will process 99% of all Scan & Deliver requests within 5 working days of receiving the request. | 99% | 100% | 99% | |
| We will ensure that 90% of available items held in our closed access stores at Colchester will be accessible within 48 hours of a request being made, Monday to Friday. | 90% | 92% | 89% | |
Resources
| Our Commitment | Target | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| For students who require alternative formats for accessibility reasons, we will provide 90% requests in an electronic version in a preferred format, where this is available, within 2 weeks. | 90% | 80%2 | 88% | |
| We will ensure that library search is available for use for 99% of scheduled uptime with the exception of circumstances beyond our control. | 99% | 100% | 100% | |
| We will work with academic schools and departments to ensure all essential items on reading lists are available online. | 90% | 96% | Data to be provided October 2024 | |
| When we receive notification from SWIS about a student with accessibility needs, we will have responded to the student with information and guidance within 3 working days. | 90% | 89% | 58%6 | |
| We will process at least 80% of eligible digitisation requests for reading list resources within 5 working days. | 80% | 96% | Data to be provided October 2024 | |
| Where the library can source an interlibrary loan request, our users will receive the materials requested: | within 7 days for items provided digitally (book chapters and journal articles). | 90% | 90% | 97% |
| within 30 days for print items provided physically (books). | 90% | 94% | 99% | |
Learning and Research Support
| Our Commitment | Target | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| We will aim for our workshops and information literacy sessions to be rated "great" or "good" by 90% of attendees. | 90% | 100% | 98% | |
| We will offer 1:1 appointments to all students based at our Colchester, Loughton and Southend campuses and those studying via University of Essex Online through our "Book a Librarian" service. We will offer a minimum of 18 appointments per week, rising to a maximum of 30 appointments per week, spread between librarians. The weekly availability will be adjusted based upon student demand and staff availability. | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| We will provide a minimum of 10 training sessions throughout the academic year for PGRs and ECRs in areas across the research lifecycle in collaboration with the REO and other professional services teams where relevant. | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
| We will promote Open Research to researchers through online resources and promotional materials. This will include developing and updating relevant LibGuide pages and communicating with our users about new read and publish deals within 3 weeks of them being available. | 100% | 100% | 100% | |
Facilities
| Our Commitment | Target | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| We will be open for at least 99% of our advertised opening hours. | 99% | 99% | 99% | |
| At Colchester at least 90% of all loans and returns will be via self-service. | 90% | 93% | 80%7 | |
| We will notify users of planned interruptions to usual service (online or physical) via social media and our website, giving at least 24 hours' notice where possible. | 90% | 100% | 100%8 | |
Our Staff
| Our Commitment | Target | 2022/23 | 2023/24 | |
| Members of library staff will take part in at least 20 hours of training and CPD activities a year (on average/pro rata for part time staff). | 95% | 89%4 | 98% | |
1 Chats missed by a few seconds. Chat operating hours have been adjusted in line with service use and a Chatbot has been implemented to improve the service for users, enabling them to get help with their enquiry before reaching live chat, although chat and email remain as options for user preference.
2 Revised standard for 2024.
3 Data loss. Added to Helpdesk weekly service standard reporting process to ensure data is collected promptly. Training and guidance provided to overnight security staff.
4 This will no longer be measured due to continually meeting the standard, reduction in print borrowing and no feedback from users.
5 This standard will be revised in 2024-25 to allow 5 working days for reply. This is to come in line with revised comments and complaints policy and staff vacancies.
6 Staff absence and role changes contributed to the measure for 2023/24.
7 Implementation of a new book return process in 2024. Teething issues over a short period meant some books were checked in by staff. These issues have been resolved.
8 This will no longer be measured due to continually meeting (and exceeding) the standard, in order to focus on other services.
