Recently LRS published the preliminary data from the 2008 Public Library Annual Report (PLAR). There are customizable statistics reports and standardized reports, including input/output measures, state totals, averages, and ratios, available.
Tag Archive for 'statistics'
Out of 73 institutions, Colorado has only 11 libraries that have completed the 2008 Academic Libraries Survey. This is far from the 85% required to close the survey.
How can we discuss the value of academic libraries if we don’t have basic data about outlets, staff, collections, services, and expenditures?
Data collection for the 2008 Academic Libraries Survey (ALS) began on November 5, 2008 and ends on February 25, 2009.
Please register, then enter and lock your data as soon as possible on the ALS Web site at http://surveys.nces.ed.gov/libraries/als
Feeling like the hordes of patrons never stop pouring in to your library? Trust those feelings, because the stats back them up!
We all know it takes a little while to aggregate survey results. Now imagine that data being gathered nationally… So, bear in mind that these factoids are based on FY06 data.
Across the United States:
• 2.1 billion transactions were made between public libraries and their users in FY 2006; this total includes books, other printed materials and audio/visual resources. This translates to an average of 7.3 transactions for every individual living in a library service area. (97 percent of Americans live in a library service area.)
• 1.4 billion visits to public libraries were made in FY 2006; that’s nearly 5 visits for every individual who resides in a library service area.
• Children are among the heaviest users of public library resources; children’s materials accounted for 35 percent of all circulation transactions in FY 2006, and attendance at library-based children’s programs was 57.8 million.
• Public libraries play an important role in providing internet access to communities. Nationwide, there were 334 million uses of public-use internet terminals in FY 2006.
These are just some of the numbers you will find in a recent report from our federal friends at the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS). For more, check out: http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/pls/index.asp
Now there’s all the proof you needed to confirm that you’re busy!
Gene Hainer pointed out this July 17 Gannett News Service article from the Fort Collins Coloradoan: “Library Demand Continues to Grow.” This was a Gannett News Organization syndication with local newspapers adding their own local information. See also, Salt Lake Tribune article. I didn’t find anything published in USA Today but one can hope, right?
Also, Jamie LaRue sent this link to the Dallas Morning News article, In economic slump, more flocking to North Texas libraries.
This type of press is great for libraries and these statistics and stories may be worth pointing out to local newspapers around Colorado. For more facts to support your case, see www.lrs.org
In accordance with Colorado library law, the Library Research Service published the 2007 Colorado Public Library Annual Report. The data is available at LRS.org as statistical reports in various formats, as well as by using LRS-i, an online interactive data tool that produces customizable tables and charts.
In 2007 Colorado public libraries had…
* 11.7 million print books
* 28 million visits
* 5.3 million reference questions
* 53.7 million circulation transactions
* 1.6 million attendees at 70,500 library programs
Following completion of the federal edit checks, the data was sent to the U.S. Census for inclusion in the national library statistics reports published by Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS).
~Nicolle
steffen_n@cde.state.co.us
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