WISCAT Audits and Patron Training  by Charles Clemence 

A few months back I made an offer to all WRLS members to come to your library and do what I called a WISCAT audit. Looking back it may have been a mistake to call it that, given the dread that IRS audits bring to people's hearts. The WISCAT audit is more like the energy audit that the power utilities offer, a chance see where improvements can be made rather then where you did something wrong. My general impression is that most libraries are only scratching the surface of what the Agent software and the WISCAT program can offer. But I won't know for sure until I can sit down and go over it with you.

To date only two libraries have shown any interest in this process and I've only been able to schedule one visit, at Black River Falls. For me that visit was a rewarding experience and not only because Muriel and Vicki sent me home with a bag full of delicious fresh peaches. I think Vicki and Muriel also found the process rewarding, although they didn't get any peaches. As is always the case when you go to do training, I learned a lot as well. And I came away with ideas that I think will be useful at other libraries.

One of these is the idea of doing training for the patrons of WRLS libraries on how to use WISCAT. This would include but not be limited to how to search for material, create requests, and monitor those requests as they go through the ILL process. As part of the discussion at Black River Falls I offered to either do the patron training or be there as a resource during the training sessions. I now make that same offer to the rest of you as well. As with the WISCAT audits, such training assistance would be available to all WRLS members of all types. So if you want to go over your WISCAT setup with me or would like further training for your patrons (or students or staff) please let me know. Believe it or not, even after over twenty years of doing this work I still enjoy doing it and still enjoy talking about it and sharing the knowledge I've gained. I'd love to have a chance to do it at your library.