Ann Arundel County Public Library - aacpl.net · Anne Arundel County Public Library Mapping Branch...

Ann Arundel County Public Library

Mapping Branch Library Usage

Anne Arundel County Public Library Mapping Branch Library Usage

• Mapping is based on a one-month sample of usage for each branch.

• Each dot on the electronic pin maps represents a household (address) with circulation activity during the sample period. A dot might represent a single item checked out or 100 items checked out by multiple family members at the same address. The dots represent WHERE people using a branch are coming from, not how much or how often they use the facility.


• The maps DO NOT reflect usage other than circulation transactions. For example, they don’t show use of public computers, Wi-Fi, or program attendance.

• They DO offer a reasonably good resprentation of the geographic areas being served by branch facilities and the degree to which individual branches are penetrating their respective service areas.

• The maps also offer helpful information regarding the interaction of branches.


A typical

usage and

interaction

map.


Census ”Block Groups” are assigned to libraries based on predominant usage.


These areas

are then used

to caculate

“primary”

service

populations for

each facility.


Some of these service areas are quite small and others are very large.


• Demographics are available for each of the service areas.

• Populations from the 2011 - 2015 U.S. Census American Community Survey and 2020 projections can be used to calculate derivative measures such as Square Feet of library building space per capita, per capita output measures such as circulation and library visits, and to gain an understanding of the characteristics of communities served by the various branches.


“Best fit” drive

times have also

been mapped for

each of the branch

locations.

These maps offer a

separate set of

demographics based

on “effective”

service areas and

often include

overlapping areas

and exclude areas

that are only

marginally served.


Drive Time areas

attempt to

capture at least

85% of usage of a

branch.

Again, the

demographics

“behind” these

areas can be

used to analyze

the effectiveness

of branches in

reaching their

communities.

Ann Arundel County Public Library - aacpl.net · Anne Arundel County Public Library Mapping Branch...

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