Public Libraries

In this chapter, we provide an overview of the public library data, a detailed description of certain survey question responses by public library size, and a summary of comparisons with the data from the 2001 survey.

1.1 Technology Overview

Availability of funding: Overall, more than three-fourths of public libraries (81.4 percent) had funding for technology in the past 12 months. Most large public libraries (92.7 percent) had funds, but small libraries were not as well funded (72.6 percent.) Anticipated technology funding for the next 12 months is weaker overall at 74.3 percent.

• Adequacy of technology funding: The majority of medium and large public libraries report that 76 percent or more of their technology needs are adequately funded. The majority of small public libraries report that 50 percent or less of their technology needs are funded. Among the small public libraries, however, 21.7 percent reported that 100 percent of their technology needs are adequately funded.
• Maintaining and adding technologies: Public libraries, regardless of size, tended to agree that their institutions are able to maintain their current levels of technology, with larger libraries reporting stronger agreement. Generally, public libraries are neutral about their ability to add new uses of technology to meet evolving needs.
• Technology capacity: This includes equipment, software, connectivity, skills and expertise, and staffing. Three-fourths of public libraries either have the technology capacity necessary to meet their needs or their capacity almost meets their mission. Only one-fourth report that their technology capacity falls short of meeting, or does not meet, their needs.
• Technologies in use:
• Public libraries' use of basic technologies over the past 12 months is pervasive, particularly for e-mail (100%), desktop computers (96.4%), and office productivity software (96.8%).
• All large public libraries have a Web site, but only 66.1 percent of small public libraries have one.
• Broadband Internet access is used by 67.3 percent of small public libraries, 83.6 percent of medium public libraries, and 90.4 percent of large public libraries. Modem (dial-up Internet access) use is strongest among small public libraries, 34 percent of which use modems, compared with 23.1 percent of medium and 26 percent of large public libraries.
• Wireless networks, including WiFi, are used in 47.1 percent of large public libraries but only in 17.3 percent of small libraries.
• Computerized catalogs of collections are very heavily used in medium and large public libraries; 96.6 percent of medium public libraries and 98.1 percent of large ones use computerized catalogs, while 70.5 percent of small libraries use them.
• Meta- or federated searching in online collections and catalogs is used in 40.8 percent of public libraries.
• Software to manage public-access computers and printing is in use in 43 percent of public libraries.
• Staff for technology activities: Libraries that "have the right amount of skilled staff" included 20.4 percent of small libraries, 21.1 percent of medium libraries, and 35.3 percent of large libraries. Overall, the majority of public libraries (73.1%), regardless of size, do not have enough skilled staff to accomplish their technology activities.
• Needs assessment: Only one-fourth (25.9%) of all public libraries conduct assessments of user or visitor needs for technology-supported services or experiences. Overall, the majority of public libraries (67.6%), regardless of size, do not conduct needs assessments.

1.2 Digitization Overview

• Digitization policies: Among the few public libraries that have policies, policies related to access (20% of libraries), best practices (10.8%), security (10.5%), and intellectual property (9.9%) are the most prevalent. Overall, however, the majority of public libraries (71.6%) do not have (or do not know whether they have) digitization policies in place or in development.
• Funding for digitization activities: More large public libraries (17.6%) had funding to support digitization activities than did medium and small public libraries (12.3 and 9.3%, respectively). The majority of public libraries, regardless of size, did not have funding to support their digitization activities in the past 12 months.
• Digitization priorities: Digitizing historical documents/archives was a top priority for 50.5 percent of all public libraries; digitizing photographs was important to 31.7 percent; and digitizing newspapers was a top priority for 28.8 percent of all public libraries.
• Materials and images digitized: The great majority of all public libraries are not active digitizers although a small percentage is very active. Large public libraries were more active than small and medium public libraries in digitization over the past 12 months; 36 percent of large public libraries digitized 1 to 500 images, 2 percent digitized 5,000 to 10,000 images, and 2 percent digitized more than 25,000 images. Almost all of the small and medium public libraries (82.4 and 80.4%, respectively) created zero digital materials or images in the past 12 months.
• Materials or images still to be digitized: Large public libraries have significant numbers of images to be created; in fact, 12.2 percent have more than 25,000 images left. Overall, 46.6 percent of public libraries report that they have zero materials or images left to be digitized; 55.7 percent of small libraries report that they have zero materials to digitize, and 49.1 percent of medium libraries report zero materials.
• Undertaking digitization activities: Among the public libraries that have digitization activities, 17.2 percent train current staff to perform digitization activities and 9.1 percent use volunteers. These were the most cited means for undertaking digitization activities. Using outside help is also frequently cited: 6.2 percent of public libraries used commercial vendors to perform digitization off-site; 2.9 percent performed these activities at another institution's digitization center; and 2.4 percent used contractual staff to perform digitization activities in-house.
• Making digital images available: Among large public libraries, 37.5 percent make some or all of their digital image collections available to the public, compared with 17.9 percent of small libraries and 14.8 percent of medium libraries. Large public libraries are more likely to make digital images available on the Web; 37.2 percent of large public libraries have digital images on the Web. Among small public libraries, 16.3 percent use their computer network (local area network or LAN) to make digital images available to the public. Overall, the majority (73.6%) of public libraries responded "Don't know/Not applicable" when asked whether they make digital images available to the public.
• Capability for digitization activities: On average and across all categories, public libraries indicated that they feel deficient in their capability to initiate, accomplish, and sustain digitization activities. On a scale of 1 (deficient) to 5 (fully capable), the highest ratings were among large public libraries related to their staff skills and expertise (2.3) and equipment and software (2.4).
• Hindrances to digitization: Overall, public libraries tended to agree the most strongly that lack of funds and lack of staff time are hindrances to their digitization activities.

This section highlights the difference between small, medium, and large public libraries based on their budget size. To determine the small, medium, and large categories, we used the public library survey question D on public library annual budget size.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question D: respondents were asked to select only one option.

2.1 Demographics

A total of 239 public libraries participated in the survey. One survey was removed from the analyses due to a large amount of incomplete data, resulting in a final sample size of 238. However, not all public library participants responded to every question, so the sample sizes in the tables below might be slightly lower than 238. In addition, some tables are broken down by size of public library while others are presented on the whole, which may result in different sample sizes for different tables.

Population

Figure 2 shows the size of the populations served by the public libraries participating in the survey. More than one-third of the public libraries reported serving fewer than 5,000 people.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question B; respondents were asked to select only one option .

Budget

Figure 3 shows the annual budgets for the public libraries in the survey sample. Just over half of the public library participants had an annual budget of less than $250,000.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question D; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Staff Size

Figure 4 shows the number of full-time staff reported by public libraries. More than half of the public libraries had fewer than five full-time-equivalent staff.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question E; respondents were asked to select only one option.

2.2 Technology

Technology Funding

Overall, more than three-quarters of public libraries (81.4 percent) had funding for technology in the past 12 months. Most large public libraries (92.7 percent) had funds, but small libraries were not as well funded (72.6 percent.) Anticipated technology funding for the next 12 months is weaker overall at 74.3 percent.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 1 and 2; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Adequate Funding of Technology Needs

The majority of medium and large public libraries report that 76 percent or more of their technology needs are adequately funded, while the majority of small public libraries report that 50 percent or less of their technology needs are adequately funded.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 3; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Maintaining and Adding Technology

Overall, public libraries agree that they are able to maintain their current levels of technology. In fact, the larger that libraries are, the more they agree that they are able to maintain their current levels of technology. However, public libraries are neutral on their ability to add new uses of technology to meet evolving needs.

Figure 7 shows the mean ratings of an institution's ability to maintain or add technology based on a 5-point scale with "1" being "strongly agree" and "5" being "strongly disagree." Therefore, ratings less than 2.5 indicate agreement, ratings between 2.5 and 3.5 indicate neither agreement nor disagreement, and ratings greater than 3.5 indicate disagreement.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 4. The scale for this question was 1, meaning strongly agree, to 5, meaning strongly disagree.

Extent of Technology Capacity

More than three-quarters of public libraries either currently have the technology capacity necessary to meet their mission, or their technology capacity almost meets their mission. Nearly one-quarter of public libraries report that their technology capacity falls short of or does not meet their mission.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 5; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Technologies Used in Past 12 Months

All public libraries used e-mail in the past 12 months, and almost all used office productivity software and desktop computers. Few public libraries used point-of-sale software and systems, or virtual reality tours.

In the past 12 months, all large public libraries had Web sites, whereas only 66.1 percent of small public libraries and 87.7 percent of medium public libraries did.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 6; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

The majority of small public libraries used between 6 and 15 technologies in the past 12 months, while the majority of medium and large public libraries used between 11 and 20 technologies.

Note: Data are based on survey question 6.

Staff Capabilities

Among large public libraries, 35.3 percent reported that they have the right number of staff to accomplish their technology activities. Overall, however, the majority of public libraries (73.1%) report that they do not have enough skilled staff to accomplish their technology activities.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 10; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Needs Assessments

A slightly higher number of small and medium public libraries (27.1 and 27.6%, respectively) conduct assessments of user or visitor needs for technology-supported services or experiences at their institutions than large public libraries (21.6%) do.

More than two-thirds of public libraries (67.6%) do not conduct these assessments.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 12; respondents were asked to select only one option.

2.3 Digitization

Digitization Policies

The most prevalent digitization policies among all public libraries are those for access (20.0%), best practices (10.8%), and security (10.5%). The least prevalent policies include those for conversion of digital files to next-generation formats (0.5%) and metadata (1.9%). Overall, the data show that even the most prevalent policies are in place in less than one-fourth of all public libraries.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 16; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

Digitization Funding

More large public libraries (17.6%) had funding to support their digitization activities in the past 12 months than medium and small public libraries (12.3 and 9.3%, respectively). More than two-thirds of all public libraries did not have funding to support their digitization activities in the past 12 months.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 18; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Materials for Digitization

Overall, few public libraries report digitizing any materials currently or in the past 12 months. Information on the institution, and photographs were digitized more than any other type of material. Medium and large public libraries are also digitizing historical documents/archives.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 20; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

Primary Digitization Priorities

For the public libraries surveyed, the most frequently identified digitization priorities were as follows:

• Historical documents/archives: 50.5 percent of all libraries considered this a priority.
• Photographs: 31.7 percent considered this a priority.
• Newspapers: 28.8 percent considered this a priority.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 22; respondents were asked to select their institution's top three priorities.

Number of Digital Materials Created in the Past 12 Months

Across all public libraries, 21.5 percent created between 1 and 500 digital images in the past 12 months. However, three-quarters of public libraries (75.2%) created zero digital materials or images in the past 12 months.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 23; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Number of Additional Images Remaining to be Digitized

Large public libraries report considerable numbers of items still to be digitized, including 12.2 percent with more than 25,000 images to be digitized. Overall, however, 46.6 percent of public libraries report that they have no digital materials or images left to digitize.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 24; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Undertaking Digitization Activities

More than three-quarters of small and medium public libraries, and one-half of large public libraries either do not know how their institution undertakes digitization activities, or this question was not applicable to them.

Large public libraries undertake their digitization activities by the following:

• Training current staff to perform these activities: 17.2 percent use this means.
• Having volunteers perform these activities: 9.1 percent use this means.
• Having these activities performed by commercial vendors off-site: 6.2 percent use this means.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 26; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

The Availability of Digital Image Collections to the Public

Overall, 21.7 percent of public libraries make some or all of their digital image collections available to the public. A higher number of large public libraries (37.5%) make some or all of their digital image collections available to the public than small and medium public libraries (17.9 and 14.8%, respectively). However, 73.6% of all public libraries responded "Don't know/not applicable" to this question.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 27; respondents were asked to select only one option.

How Digital Image Collections Are Made Available

Of those large public libraries that make their digital image collections available to the public, more than one-third make their collections available on the Web. Both large and small public libraries are more likely to make collections available on the premises on their computer network (LAN) than medium libraries.

Of those small and medium public libraries that make their digital image collections available to the public, the majority (79.6 and 80.9%, respectively) either do not know how their collections are made available, or this question was not applicable to them.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 28; respondents were asked to select all that apply. Table only includes respondents who reported that they make some or all of their digital image collections available to the public.

Needs Assessments

Only small and medium public libraries (4.6 and 3.8%, respectively) reported that they conduct assessments of their user or visitor needs for digitized materials and images. No large public libraries reported that they conduct assessments. Overall, three-quarters or more of public libraries do not conduct assessments of their user or visitor needs for digitized materials.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 35; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Collaboration

Overall, 16 percent of public libraries collaborate (through specific partnering agreements) with other institutions and organizations to digitize materials. Large public libraries are about three times more likely to collaborate (through specific partnering agreements) than medium or small public libraries.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 37; respondents were asked to select only one option.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 37; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

Capabilities in Initiating, Accomplishing, and Sustaining Digitization Activities

Figure 25 shows the average ratings of an institution's capability to initiate, accomplish, and sustain digitization activities based on a 5-point scale with "1" being "deficient" and "5" being "fully capable." Therefore, ratings less than 2.5 tend to indicate deficiency and ratings greater than 2.5 tend to indicate capability.

Overall, public libraries rate their capability at initiating, accomplishing, and sustaining digitization activities between "deficient" and "somewhat deficient" in all areas.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 39; respondents were asked to select all that apply. The scale for this question was 1, meaning deficient, to 5, meaning fully capable.

Hindrances to Digitization Activities

Overall, public libraries (regardless of size) tended to agree that all of the following are hindrances to their digitization activities, with the strongest agreement elicited by "lack of funds" and "lack of staff time." Public libraries tended to disagree with the notions that "not having collections worth digitizing" and "management is unaware of the benefits of digitization" were hindrances to digitization.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 40; respondents were asked to rate each potential hindrance. The scale for this question was 1, meaning strongly agree, to 5, meaning strongly disagree.

This section highlights the differences in the following categories between the 2001 and the 2004 survey findings for public libraries.

• Top technologies used
• Funding for technology and digitization
• Sources of funding for digitization activities
• Digitization policies
• Top goals for digitization projects

Because of some differences between the 2001 and 2004 survey questions, comparisons are made only where applicable.

3.1 Overview

• Technologies used in the past 12 months: There were slight increases in some technologies (e-mail, office productivity software, desktop computers, institutional Web sites) and decreases in others (notebook or tablet computers, accounting/payroll, and software/human resources). The newer technologies (broadband, WiFi, software to manage public-access computers and printing, and federated searching) were not options in the 2001 survey, so these are not reflected in the comparisons.
• Availability of funding for technology and digitization: Fewer public libraries reported having funding for technology in 2004 (81.4%) than in 2001 (98.7%). Similarly, in 2004, 12.3 percent of the libraries had funding for digitization activities, a drop from 30 percent in 2001.
• Sources of funding for digitization activities: In 2001, 46.3 percent of all libraries identified institutional operating funds as a major source of funding for digitization activities; 25.4 percent identified gifts from donors as a major source; and 23.9 percent identified foundation grants as a major source of funding. In 2004, 37 percent of all libraries identified city, county, or other local government funds as a major source of funding; 33.3 percent identified institutional operating funds; and 22.2 percent identified gifts from donors and grants from Federal agencies as top sources.
• Digitization policies: In general, the percentage of public libraries that have digitization policies in place or in development increased from 2001 to 2004. For example, 20.6 percent of all libraries had access policies in 2004, while only 1.3 percent of libraries had access policies in 2001; and 10.7 percent of all libraries had best practices policies in 2004, as opposed to only 0.9 percent in 2001. Still, more than three-quarters of libraries did not have policies in place or in development in 2004.
• Digitization goals: Preserving materials of importance and value ranked first in both 2001 and 2004: 37.4 percent of all public libraries surveyed in 2001 ranked this goal as important, and 42.2 percent ranked it as important in 2004. In 2001, increasing interest in the institution came in second, with 32.5 percent of libraries indicating this to be an important goal; but in 2004, increasing access to collections, materials, and files came in second, with 32.2 percent of libraries identifying this goal as important. Providing access to materials via the Web was important in 2001 to 26.7 percent of all libraries, while minimizing damage to original materials was important in 2004 to 23.2 percent of all libraries.

3.2 Top Technologies Used

For most types of technology that we asked about, there was an increase from the percentage of public libraries that reported using them in 2001 to the percentage of public libraries that reporting using them in 2004. However, the number of libraries using notebook or tablet computers, technology related to accounting/payroll/human resources, and computerized catalogs of library or other collections decreased 6 to 17 percent. The top three technologies used in 2001 and 2004 were e-mail, office productivity software, and desktop computers.

3.3 Funding for Technology and Digitization

The percentage of public libraries that reported that they had funding in 2004 for both technology and digitization activities is lower than the percentage that reported they had funding in 2001.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey questions 1 and 18; respondents were asked to select only one option.

3.4 Sources of Funding for Technology

For those public libraries that had funding for their technology activities, the top three sources were the same in 2001 as they were in 2004: city, county, or other local government funds; institutional operating funds; and State funds.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 1; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

3.5 Sources of Funding for Digitization Activities

The top three sources of funding for digitization activities in 2001 were as follows:

• Institutional operating funds: 46.3 percent of libraries identified this as a top source.
• Grants from Federal agencies: 37.3 identified this as a top source.
• Gifts from donors: 25.4 percent identified this as a top source.

In 2004, the top three sources were as follows:

• City, county, or other local government funds: 37.0 percent of libraries identified this as a top source.
• Institutional operating funds: 33.3 percent identified this as a top source.
• Gifts from donors and grants from Federal agencies: 22.2 percent identified both of these categories as top sources of funding.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 18; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

3.6 Digitization Policies

In general, the percentage of public libraries that have digitization policies in place or in development (versus "not in place or in development/don't know") increased from 2001 to 2004. However, even in 2004, the majority of public libraries did not have policies in place or in development.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 16; respondents were asked to select all that apply.

3.7 Top Goals for Digitization Projects

The top three goals for digitization activities in 2001 were as follows:

• Preserve materials of importance or value: 37.4 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.
• Increase interest in the institution: 32.5 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.
• Provide access to materials via the Web: 26.7 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.

In 2004, the top three goals for digitization activities were as follows:

• Preserve materials of importance or value: 42.2 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.
• Increase access to collections/materials/files: 32.2 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.
• Minimize damage to original materials: 23.2 percent of libraries identified this as a goal.

Note: Data are based on responses to survey question 31; respondents were asked to select their institution's top three goals.