This research brief describes recent methodological initiatives with the Public Libraries Survey. It describes how starting with the 2022 data, Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) updated geographic identifiers to better align Census Bureau geography types with the library's legal service area, with the goal of enabling data users to…

The "LJ" Index of Public Library Service 2010, "Library Journal"'s national rating of public libraries, identifies 258 "star" libraries. Created by Ray Lyons and Keith Curry Lance, and based on 2008 data from the IMLS, it rates 7,407 public libraries. The top libraries in each group get five, four, or three stars. All included libraries, stars or…

In August 2008, the Missouri River Regional Library (MRRL), where the author serves as information technology coordinator, switched over from an internally hosted Microsoft Exchange email server to the Google Apps product. As the person who led the charge to use Google Apps and the person who actually flipped the switch, he was responsible for…

E-books have been around for more than 10 years but are still a relatively new phenomenon to many librarians and publishers. With the introduction of e-book readers, the e-book has become mainstream, with recent triple-digit annual increases in sales. But what place do they have in the library? In this volume, Sue Polanka brings together a variety…

This paper reviews and summarizes the procedures used by the Library Research Center (LRC) of the University of Illinois to process data from Illinois public library annual reports filed with the Illinois State Library (ISL). The complete processing cycle is described, including: (1) preparation and revision of reporting forms; (2) their…

This preliminary study of the region and its population, which was conducted in order to determine the best methods for the distribution of information, is based largely on 1971 census data and will require review and further analysis when the 1976 census data are available. A brief description of the region and the characteristics of the local…

Describes how salary data are collected for "The Municipal Year Book," and presents 10 tables compiled from the 1988 yearbook which provide salary data on library directors in cities of various size populations (from more than 1,000,000 to less than 2,500). Data are broken down by geographic region, city type, and form of government. (MES)

Designed to provide librarians, library administrators, and other interested persons with information organized to facilitate comparisons of libraries within the same library system, with comparable service populations, and with comparable expenditures, this publication contains information derived from the 1985 Annual Report/System Membership…

Describes how library decision-making was enhanced by a systematic study of patrons, services, and effectiveness based on the concept known as performance measures for public libraries. Improvements in the data gathering and analysis techniques are noted; also provided are survey instruments, examples of selected revised forms, and references. (SW)

Designed to facilitate the rapid comparison of fiscal year 1978 support and activity levels among public libraries in Massachusetts, this report identifies twelve indicators of library support and activity and presents percentage and per capita figures for each municipality. Data are for the twelve-month period ending June 30, 1978, and represent…

Intended for use by library staffs, directors, and trustees, this report of salary and staffing information for Massachusetts public libraries for 1978 is presented in a standardized format to facilitate the identification of comparable libraries and the comparison of salaries and other personnel data. Explanatory notes define the terms used in…

Central Massachusetts Library Administration Simulation Project (CLASP) was a research project funded under Title II-B to develop and test a simulation model that would enable public library personnel to learn and practice skills of negotiation, decision making, budgeting, and program planning. A simulation model was developed and tested in a…

The Texas Public Library Summary for 1999 contains summaries of the information submitted by Texas public libraries in the 1999 Annual Report/System Membership Application Form (ARSMA) and reported in detail in the Texas Public Library Statistics for 1999. The Summary provides an overview of Texas public library income, expenditures, services, and…

This document is a compilation of information supplied by Arizona public libraries. Data is arranged by a separate index divider for each of these county groups: Apache, Cochise, and Coconino; Gila, Graham, Greenlee, and La Paz; Maricopa and Mohave; Navajo, Pima, and Pinal; and Santa Cruz, Yavapai, and Yuma. Each section contains tables of the…

It has been a decade since the first aggregator journal packages began to become available at academic and public libraries throughout the United States of America. During these 10 years, the library and information science community has published numerous articles on the pros and cons of this method of delivery and these collections, more than…