Questionnaire from State Library Services

Public libraries are required by state law to report information to State Library Services every year. State Library Services would appreciate your feedback about the value of the information we collect. 

The report covers input and output measures related to collections, staffing, hours of operation, programs, public services, income and expenditures, and other data. The annual report also collects federally required data that's reported to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. In addition to federally required data, states may collect whatever other data they want or need. This questionnaire asks your opinion on how useful current data elements are and those we might consider adding, modifying or eliminating.

When answering the questions, please consider:
Extent data is available and how difficult it is to collect
Extent the data actually improves decision-making and policy
Effect on other data elements
How the data integrates with other data elements

Give us your opinion on each of the following data elements for the Minnesota Public Library Report. Each data element description is followed by a multiple-choice question. Please answer each question. 

Your opinions and comments will inform State Library Services about data elements to include in future Public Library Reports.
Survey

Libraries report whether any branch has Category 6 wiring within their facilities. Higher quality telecommunication cabling systems like Category 7 and 8 are now available.

In addition to or instead of cabling systems, libraries could report their local network speed. Libraries would report the speed of the library’s local network for public access computers. Options could include 10 or less Mb (megabit), 10.0 to 100 Mb, 100.01 to 1000 Mb, 1.1 to 10 Gb (gigabit), or More than 10.1Gb.

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* 1. Would reporting telecommunication cabling within a library facility by category 6, 7 or 8 be useful?

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* 2. Would reporting local network speed be useful?

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* 3. Which data element would be most useful?

Libraries report both typical and optimum public Internet speeds. The speed test measures broadband connection parameters by sending a small file from the server and measuring the time it takes to download and then upload the file back to the server. Typical speeds are tested when all or most of the library’s Internet computers are in use. Optimum speeds are tested when the library is closed or few public computers are in use. The average typical and optimum speeds for all public libraries are within close range of each other.

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* 4. How would you prefer to report your library's upload and download Internet speeds for public computers?

Libraries report public computer Internet upload and download speeds using the following speed ranges.
Up to 1.4 Mbps (millions of bits per second)
1.5 Mbps (T1)
1.6 Mbps – 4.9 Mbps
5.0 Mbps – 9.9 Mbps
10.0 Mbps – 15.0 Mbps
15.1 Mbps – 20.0 Mbps
20.1 Mbps or greater

For the 2015 annual report, libraries were asked to specify speeds greater than 20.1 Mbps. About155 branches reported speeds from 20.1 to 500 Mbps. Considering the improvements in Internet speeds, the annual report could include the following additional speed ranges.
20.1 Mbps – 50.0 Mbps
50.1 Mbps – 100 Mbps
100.1 Mbps – 500 Mbps
500.1 Mbps – 1 Gbps (billions of bits per second)
Greater than 1 Gbps (please specify

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* 5. Would adding additional public Internet speed ranges from 20.1 Mbps to greater than 1 Gbps be useful?

Libraries engage with their communities in order to address local needs. Community engagement depends upon partnerships with diverse stakeholders from both public and private spheres. The library establishes partnerships to enhance the library’s capacity, impact and ability to address community needs such as homelessness, immigration, poverty, equity, public safety, economic development, public health, and environmental sustainability.

When two or more organizations create a partnership they can engage with one another to varying degrees. Partners communicate information by attending meetings, distributing promotional materials, setting up displays, making presentations, etc. in order to raise awareness of community needs. Partners provide mutual assistance in working toward a common goal by sponsoring activities or recruiting volunteers to address community needs. Partners work together to jointly develop and deliver a program or service by sharing staff, resources, and costs for the benefit of participants. 

As partners, library staff members join community organizations and serve on boards, committees and work groups. They help design and implement programs in ways that engage community-members directly.

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* 6. Would information about the number of libraries engaged in community partnerships be useful?

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* 7. Would information about the level of engagement with partners be useful?

Volunteers are individuals who perform a service willingly and without pay. Volunteers can be any age but are usually 14 years of age or older. Volunteer tasks in the library include, but are not limited to, creating displays, maintaining the condition of physical materials, assisting with annual book sales, making library customers' visits welcoming and successful, assisting with library programs, assisting customers with computer applications, and returning materials to library shelves.

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* 8. Would information about the number of libraries using volunteers be useful?

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* 9. Which performance measure(s) about volunteers would be most useful?

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* 10. How should the volunteer performance measure(s) be reported?

Beginning in 2015, libraries reported about whether they offered a summer reading program, and, if so, for which age levels--birth to 5, 5 to 11, and 12-18 year olds. 

Public libraries are now incorporating summer learning programs with traditional summer reading programs. Summer learning programs focus on a variety of academic and developmental areas in addition to reading. Summer learning programs engage youth in activities that keep them thinking while developing new skills in math, science, history, and art as well as reading. Summer learning programs help ensure that youth retain critical reading and academic skills they acquired during the school year through reading and learning activities over the school break.

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* 11. Does your library offer summer learning programs other than summer reading for youth?

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* 12. Would information about the number of libraries offering summer learning programs be useful?

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* 13. Would information about summer learning programs by intended age group--preschoolers, school-aged, and teens--be useful?

Are there other annual report data elements that should be added, modified or eliminated?  Please list in the comment boxes below.

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* 14. Are there data elements you would like to add to the Minnesota Public Library Report?

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* 15. Are there data elements you would like to modify in the Minnesota Public Library Report?

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* 16. Are there data elements you would like to eliminate from the Minnesota Public Library Report?

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* 17. Do you have any additional comments about the Minnesota Public Library Report?

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* 18. What library type or group are you affiliated with?

State Library Services will offer a webinar on data element changes for the 2016 annual report on Thursday, December 15, 1:30 to 2:30 p.m. You are invited to join the discussion and express your preferences.

The webinar will also include information on the new data element added for federal reporting to the Institute of Museum and Library Services. The addition of Successful Retrieval of Information for Electronic Collections will capture the use of online content that does not require a traditional check-out and return. This element will capture the use of commercial databases that has not been reported in the past. Collecting the use of information databases and downloadable platforms will show a more accurate usage of library resources.

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* 19. Are you be interested in participating in the webinar about changes to the Minnesota Public Library Annual Report?

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* 20. If you would like to be notified about the webinar, please type your email address below.

Thank you. 
State Library Services values your feedback and opinions.

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