Here’s how we came up with our numbers for our popular Quotable Facts About Colorado Libraries.

Basic statistics

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

Colorado Talking Book Library

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

Activities

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