Report type – Cost by code table

The Cost by code table report shows total costs recorded on the Y axis, and the code table that you have chosen on the X axis (in this case Request type was selected).

It allows you to analyse the cost of answering questions during the selected date period.

Selecting Date type of Closed date will report on all costs accumulated in relation to questions closed during the period (no matter how far into the past the time was spent). Selecting Date type of Received date will report on all costs accumulated in relation to questions received during the period. Selecting Date type of Journal activity will report on all costs accumulated in relation to questions worked on during the period and is usually used to report on all costs incurred during the period.

Cost is calculated for full questions, from the values entered in the Time used field for all questions in the selected time period, multiplied by the billing rate for the librarian who did the work, plus any other costs entered in the Costs incurred field.)

Cost is calculated for DeskStats, by multiplying the billing rate for the librarian who did the work, by the time equivalence for the column selected, as set in the DeskStats duration code table. Recording this value in the DeskStats record at the time that it is recorded ensures that this cost field always reflects the costs of the work at the time it was done.

This report can provide a quick indicator of the value of the work done by your library in answering client requests.