The 2014 Quotable Facts About Colorado Libraries details quick facts about Colorado’s public, school, and academic libraries. Look below to read how we calculated the numbers used in this report.
Here’s how we came up with our numbers.
Circulation
- Public: Total Circulation, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
- School: Circulation per Week, Statewide Estimates, Annual Colorado School Library Survey (2012-13). 36 weeks per school year. http://www.lrs.org/school/data/totals-and-benchmarks/?survey_year=2012
- Academic: Colorado General Collection Circulation [Table 1], 2012 Academic Libraries Survey by NCES. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014038_supp.pdf
- Colorado state population: 2013 Colorado estimated population. http://quickfacts.census.gov/qfd/states/08000.html
Visits
- Public: Visits, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
- School: Individual Visits per Week / Group Visits per Week, Statewide Estimates, Annual Colorado School Library Survey (2012-13). 36 weeks in school year. http://www.lrs.org/school/data/totals-and-benchmarks/?survey_year=2012
- Academic: Colorado Gate Count During Typical Week [Table 3], 2012 Academic Libraries Survey by NCES. 2 16-week semesters in academic year. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012365_1.pdf
- State Parks visitation source: FY13-14 Department of Natural Resources Strategic plan, Outdoor Recreation Program. https://data.colorado.gov/Strategic-Plan/Strategic-Plan-FY13-14-Department-of-Natural-Resou/y67h-ftav
Locations
- Public: General Information, Central Library / Number of Branches, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
- School: Colorado Department of Education staffing data
- Academic: Based on physical address and recalculation of NCES Colorado number of academic libraries [Table 2], 2012 Academic Libraries Survey by NCES. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2012/2012365_1.pdf
- Starbucks stores resource: Starbucks Investor Relations’ “Store Counts: By State,” FY 13 Colorado company-operated (not licensed) stores. http://investor.starbucks.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=99518&p=irol-financialhighlights
Library cards
Public: LSA Registered Borrowers, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
Librarians
- Public: ALA-MLS, Paid Staff in FTEs, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
- School: Colorado Department of Education staffing data, full time 36 weeks per year.
- Academic: 2012 Colorado Total FTE Staff/Librarians [Table 6], Academic Libraries Survey by NCES. http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014038_supp.pdf
Technology
Access to free computers/Internet
Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey Colorado 2011-12. http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/advocacy/state-details?id=CO
Public library internet computer uses
Computers & Networking: Uses of internet computers, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/advanced/id/1015141/
Public library wireless access uses
Computers & Networking: Number of wireless access uses, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/advanced/id/1015024/
Public library technology training
Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey Colorado 2011-12. http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/advocacy/state-details?id=CO
School library teaching approaches
Teaching Approaches: Teach Digital Resources frequency, Annual Colorado School Library Survey (2012-13). http://www.lrs.org/school/data/advanced/id/113822/
Public library program attendance
Total Program Attendance, Colorado Totals, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013. Estimate $8 per movie ticket.
Reference questions
- Public: Total Reference Questions, Colorado Total, Colorado’s Public Library Annual Report (2013 preliminary). http://www.lrs.org/public/data/totals-averages-and-ratios/?survey_year=2013
- Academic: 2012 Information Services to Individuals [Table 3], Academic Libraries Survey by NCES (http://nces.ed.gov/pubs2014/2014038_supp.pdf)
Public library job resources
Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey Colorado 2011-12. http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/advocacy/state-details?id=CO