Survey Results for Public Libraries

Summary of the Survey Findings

Technology use: Ninety-nine percent of public libraries that responded indicated that they currently use some kinds of technologies. The technologies most widely used are: access to the Internet, e-mail, computerized catalogs of library collections, desktop computers, standard office software, and Web sites. Among the small libraries (those serving populations under 10,000), e-mail and Internet access are strong (more than 85 percent), but they lag in online catalogs, desktop computers, standard office software, and Web sites. Only 1 percent of respondents said that 'None of the above' technologies are in use. Ninety-nine percent report some funding source for technology.

Digitization: Twenty-five percent reported activities in the past 12 months. Among the small libraries, only 8 percent reported any activities in that time period. Beyond the next 12 months, 31 percent expect to be involved in digitization. Among the survey groups, public libraries are the least involved in digitization activities. Funding is the most-cited hindrance to digitization activities, though other institutional priorities, lack of expertise and staff time were also noted.

Only three percent of the responding public libraries have digitization policies in place, although 17 percent reported that they are developing policies. Two percent list their digital products with a registry, and seven percent have them listed in the libraries' catalogs.

Key Respondent Demographics

• At the time the surveys were sent, there were 7,555 public libraries eligible for surveying. Surveys were sent to 1,019 public libraries, and 237 responses were received. The response rate was 23 percent.
• The confidence level for the public library data is 90 percent (+/- 10 percent), which means the data are a reliable indicator of trends.
• The responding public libraries indicated the populations served as in Figure 25.

Exemplary Project: The Children of Birmingham-Past, Present, and Future The Birmingham Cultural Alliance Program (BCAP), a collaboration of six museums and the public library funded by IMLS, take the city's children through the great decades of Birmingham's past. For the inner-city children, it is an opportunity to discover the rich legacy of their cultural heritage. They explore agricultural advances of George Washington Carver. They follow the heroic World War II flights of the Tuskegee Airmen. They listen to the music of jazz legends like Erskin Hawkins. They march with the visionaries of the Alabama Christian Movement for Human Rights from Birmingham's 16th Street Baptist Church--the epicenter of the Civil Rights Movement that changed the nation forever. http://www.imls.gov/closer/archive/hlt_c0202.htm

The Status of Technology - Public Libraries

What technologies (hardware and software) does your institution currently use for its day-to-day operations? What technologies does it plan to acquire or implement in the next 12 months?

Figure 26 lists technologies used by public libraries in descending order. The six "basic" technologies are highlighted.

Figure 26: Technologies Currently in Use and Anticipated by Public Libraries

• In libraries serving populations of more than 10,000, the use of technologies increases with each step to the next population group. Thus, public libraries serving populations of more than 100,000 have the heaviest use of all types of technology.
• Few libraries reported planning to add technologies in the next 12 months. Fifty-two percent checked 'None of the above.'
• Libraries planning to add technologies during the next 12 months are clustered among the population ranges serving 5,000 to 249,999. The one exception is 'Web site," for which all sizes of libraries have plans.

What are the current sources of funds for this technology? (Check all that apply.)

• Ninety-nine percent of public libraries report having some funding source for technology.
  • Operating funds (65 percent of all responding public libraries)
  • State funds (56 percent)
  • City government funds (45 percent)
  • IMLS (LSTA-funded Grants to States and LSTA-funded National Leadership Grants program) (20 percent)

What technology does your institution currently use for programming? (Check all that apply.) What does it plan to use for programming in the next 12 months that it does not currently use?

• More than 42 percent of public libraries use technology to support programming, and more than 33 percent plan to add programming technologies in the next 12 months.
• Technology is currently used most often in programming to present educational programs via onsite computer (22 percent) and to present information on exhibits to the public via the Web (19 percent).
• Technology most often planned in the next 12 months: 'We provide programs and exhibits on our Web site' (18 percent).
• More than 64 percent of public libraries serving a population of 25,000 or less reported the use of technology to support programming as 'Not applicable.' But more than 85 percent of libraries serving a population of 500,000 or greater currently use technology to support programming, especially for 'Information on exhibits is presented to public via the Web.'

Technology is useful for your institution's programming because…? (see Figure 27)

Figure 27: Technology is Useful to Your Public Library Programming Because:

What hinders the use of technology in your institution's programming?

• 'Cost' (74 percent of all public libraries) and 'Lack of staff expertise' (54 percent) were identified as hindrances to the use of technology in programming. 'Lack of staff time' was a common write-in response.

Digitization Plans, Practices, and Policies - Public Libraries
In the past 12 months, have you been or are you currently involved in digitization, for example, current projects, funding, setting standards, implementing, etc.? (see Figure 28)

Figure 28: Digitization Activities in Small and Large Public Libraries

Figure 29 summarizes current and planned digitization activities among all public library respondents.

Figure 29: Current and Planned Digitization Activities in Public Libraries

What hinders your efforts at digitization?

Libraries were asked to rank the top three hindrances. Figure 30 shows the rank among the responses.

Figure 30: Ranking of Digitization Hindrances for Public Libraries

*No response.

• Public libraries with no plans to digitize cited similar hindrances: 'Lack of funds to support digitization' and 'Other projects have higher priority.' These libraries also had high rates of response to 'Do not see a role for our institution in digitization' or 'Do not see the usefulness of digitization for our institution.'

Exemplary Project: Libraries Link Rural NY Residents to Job Information Though a project funded by IMLS, rural residents of Livingston, Ontario, Wayne, and Wyoming Counties in New York need go no further than their local library to initiate a job search. The Pioneer Library System teamed with the New York State Department of Labor to make thirteen small, rural libraries points of access for essential employment services and information. http://www.imls.gov/closer/archive/hlt_l0300.htm

What are the primary goals for your institution's digitizing activities?

Respondents were asked to rank their three most important goals from a list. Figure 31 shows the overall ranking for each item.

Figure 31: Highest Priority Digitization Goals for Public Libraries

• Goal priorities are fairly consistent across public libraries by size of population served.

What materials has your institution selected for digitization?

• Photographs (30 percent )
• Historical documents/archives (29 percent)
• 'Not applicable' was the most frequent response (54 percent) to the question about what is being digitized.

Where do you currently obtain funds to support your digitizing efforts? (Check all that apply.)

• Public libraries with funding for digitization activities (15 percent) reported these sources: Operating funds (14 percent), Gifts from donors (8 percent), Foundation grants (7 percent), IMLS grants (7 percent) (IMLS' LSTA-funded Grants to States program).

Does your institution cooperate with other organizations to develop digitization programs, i.e. partnerships, consortia, etc.?

• Thirty-nine percent of public libraries that are currently digitizing report cooperative arrangements with other institutions, most frequently with historical societies, other public libraries, academic libraries, and SLAAs.

Does your institution have digitization policies in place? In development?

• Three percent of responding public libraries have digitization policies currently in place. 'Materials to be digitized' was the most frequently cited policy category.
• Seventeen percent of public libraries indicate they are developing digitization policies.

Does your institution allow access to its digital collection by the public?

• Forty-eight percent of public libraries that have some portion of their collection digitized allow access to their digital collections primarily use the Web or through their own computer network.
• For those public libraries that allow access, the target audiences are 'anyone with Internet access' (75 percent) and 'visitors on site' (45 percent).
• Seventy-nine percent of these public libraries give free access (no charge) to 'Anyone with Internet access.'

Are your digital products listed with any digital registry?

• Only two percent of responding public libraries listed their digital products with a registry.
• Seven percent of responding libraries have digital products listed in their own catalogs.