In 2010, researchers from the University of Washington released the study “Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries.” This study was a national effort that consisted of a random telephone survey, online surveys of library users, interviews, and focus groups to determine who library internet computer users were, […]
Library Journal has just released its 2013 Index of Public Library Service and Star Library ratings. This index is a rating system for public libraries nationwide, and libraries earn a star by being in the top 30 of their expenditure peer group (top 15 for the highest expenditure group) on an index score based […]
Good news! We’ve extended the deadline for completing the 2013-2014 Colorado School Library Survey to Monday, December 2, so that everyone has time to participate. School librarians–your responses really do matter, and we hope you will take the time to complete the survey! Here are a couple examples of how we use your results: This […]
Are you a librarian at a public school in Colorado? If so, we hope you will take the annual school library survey! It is available at http://www.lrs.org/slsurvey/. We’re continually working on ways to improve this survey and make better use of the results. Did you know that: In 2011-12, we updated the survey so that […]
We know that borrowing books is a very important service libraries provide – 80% of Americans say so. But how does this opinion translate into action? In Colorado last year, libraries circulated more than 66 million items, according to the 2012 Annual Public Library Survey. In other words, each Colorado resident checked out an average […]
Image credit: Santa Clara County Library District What value does your library provide to users? A recent return on investment (ROI) study of Santa Clara County Library District (SCCLD) examined how their community benefited from the library in 5 areas: Enhancing early literacy and youth education Promoting lifelong learning and personal growth Building and bridging […]
In March of this year, the Pew Research Center conducted a study on teenage technology use (http://www.pewinternet.org/Reports/2013/Teens-and-Tech.aspx ), and found that mobile access to the internet among teens is “pervasive.” According to the study, almost half of teens (47%) own a smartphone, and almost 1 in 4 (23%) own a tablet (which is comparable […]
Every year, we conduct a survey of Colorado public school libraries. The results of this survey, which include information about library instruction strategies, collections, web presence, staffing, usage, and budgets, help administrators, school library staff, and other stakeholders with planning and evaluation. These results are also used to market and advocate for school libraries; for […]
Image credit: Pew Internet According to a Pew Research Center survey of more than 2,400 Advanced Placement and National Writing Project teachers, digital and web technologies are having beneficial and tangible impacts on student writing and skills needed for the future. When asked to rate the importance of various skills in contributing to their students’ […]
Image credit: Cynthia Howe YOUmedia is a 21st-century learning space for teens located in 5 Chicago Public Library branches. It provides a place where teens can access and learn about digital media (photo and video editing, web design, podcasting, audio recording, etc.), and collaborate with their peers and mentors in a supportive environment. The University […]
