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FY 2018 PLS User’s Guide (PDF, 2.3MB)

Reporting Group and Fiscal Cycle

States and U.S. Territories

Survey Due Date

Group #1

(July-June)

AK, AZ, CA, CT, DE, GA, HI, IA, KY, MA, MD, MO, MT, NC, NM, NV, OK, OR, RI, SC, TN, VA, WV, WY

April 19, 2019

Group #2

(October-September, January-December)

AL, AR, CO, DC, FL, ID, IL, IN, KS, LA, ME, MI, MN, MS, ND, NE, NH, NJ, NY, OH, PA, SD, UT, VT, WA, WI, American Samoa, Guam, Northern Mariana Islands, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands

July 26, 2019

Group #3*

(January-December)

TX

August 16, 2019

*Extraordinary reporting hardship

Guidance for Data Collection

FY 2018 Data Element Changes

Data Element Number Data Element Name (Variable Name) Data Element Definition
653 Website Visits (WEBVISIT) Visits represent the annual number of sessions initiated by all users from inside or outside the library to the library website. The library website consists of all webpages under the library’s domain. A website “visit” or “session” occurs when a user connects to the library's website for any length of time or purpose, regardless of the number of pages or elements viewed. Usage of library social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) should not be reported here.

The first year of the life cycle of a new PLS data element is a trial collection year to allow states adequate time to add the element to their state surveys and train their libraries how to collect the new data element.  Report “-1” (missing) if your state does not yet ask libraries for this information or if your state does collect it but a library was unable to report or if a library does not have a website.

FY 2018 Import and Edit Files

These import file specifications reflect the approved additions and changes to the data elements for FY 2018. In addition, this year’s specifications include a column noting the Item Number for each data element. Please provide these files to your vendor if you have one.