Assess to Impress: Your Library By the Numbers

YOUR PEER LIBRARIES

• Service area population or enrollment• Total operating expenditures• Number of outlets

• Ethnicity• Poverty level• Education level• Average income

Public Library Benchmark Sources•LJ Index of Public Library Service•Hennen’s American Public Library Ratings

(HAPLR)•Public Library Data Service (PLDS)• Institute of Museum and Library Services

(IMLS) •Urban Libraries Council Technology

Benchmarks• International City/County Mgmt Assn.

(ICMA)•US IMPACT Survey (IMLS, Gates, U-WA)

Academic & School Library Benchmark SourcesAcademic School

• National Center for Education Statistics (NCES)

• State and consortium reports

• School Libraries Count!• State and consortium reports• State guidelines and standards

PER CAPITA

Visits

Circulation

ProgramAttendance

Public InternetUse

HENNEN WEIGHTSExpenditure Per Capita 3Cost Per Circ 3

Visits Per Capita 3Materials % of Budget 2Collection Turnover 2Circ Per FTE Staff Hour 2Circ Per Capita 2Circ Per Hour 2Reference Per Capita 2Materials $ Per Capita 2FTE staff Per 1000 Pop 2Periodicals Per 1000 Pop 1Volumes Per Capita 1Visits Per Hour 1Circ Per Visit 1

Print - $135

Online - $200

Develop a library strategic plan that achieves a dynamic school library program and includes a mission and vision, measurable goals, operational management procedures, instructional strategies and an evaluation component.

LIBRARY POP SCORE %ILE

Hotwings Mem PL 25K 559 58%Beefstock Mem PL 25K 464 43%Bacon Mem PL 25K 444 40%

2 week loan period, 2 renewals = 3 circs for 6 weeks

3 week loan period, 1 renewal = 2 circs for 6 weeks

LIBRARY POP SCORE %ILE

Hotwings Mem PL 25K 559 58%Beefstock Mem PL 25K 464 43%Bacon Mem PL 25K 444 40%

Lower poverty

Higher education

$$$$

Large collection

More outlets

PUBLIC LIBRARY SUCCESS STORIES

30% fewer staff

< 2 books per capita

Less expenditures per

capita

Highest program attendance

Large Suburban County Library

Urban LibraryPeers better

funded

Lowest education and

income demographic

Highest diversity

demographic

Peer had more visible

marketing

School Library

Test scores

Economic impact

Advocates

DIY•Focus on important #s

•Schedule annually

•Get help and resources

•Find data partners

By the Numbers: Benchmarking Your Community and Library