701 Total number of reference transactions.
For public library statistics, our definition now conforms to the definition maintained by the Reference and User Services Association (RUSA):
"Reference Transactions are information consultations in which library staff recommend, interpret, evaluate, and/or use information resources to help others to meet particular information needs. Reference transactions do not include formal instruction or exchanges that provide assistance with locations, schedules, equipment, supplies, or policy statements."
Notes:
701b Reference transactions reporting method. Please choose one of these two options for how reference transactions are tracked:
Annual Count vs. Annual Estimate
If an annual count of reference transactions is unavailable, count reference transactions during a typical week or weeks, and multiply the count to represent an annual estimate.
A “typical week” is a time that is neither unusually busy nor unusually slow. Avoid holiday times, vacation periods for key staff, or days when unusual events are taking place in the community or in the library. Choose a week in which the library is open its regular hours. Example: If there are four weeks sampled, multiply the totals for those four weeks by 13 to get an estimate for the full year. If the sample is done twice a year (one week at each time, two weeks total) multiply the count by 26 to get the estimated annual count.
702 Does your library offer digital literacy instruction sessions? Yes/No
Please answer Yes if your library provides digital literacy instructional sessions that are:
Please answer Yes if sessions enhance digital literacy skills in the areas of:
Please do not count informal reference or informational transactions that only focus on the use of library services or online resources (those transactions may be reported in Question 701).
711 Meeting Room Usage. Number of all other meetings or events held at library facilities that were not sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Please include scheduled meetings which occur in any area of the library (your library need not have a room specifically for meetings). Please include study room use (even if used by single individuals), and other scenarios where library space is used for community meetings, which you are able to easily track (scheduled tutoring sessions, etc.).
712 Does your library provide a summer reading program?
Answer Yes if your library provides special programs and/or activities during the summer to encourage children and teens to read during their school vacation.
751 - Live Program Sessions for Children Ages 0-5.
A program session targeted at children ages 0-5 is any planned event for which the primary audience is infants, toddlers, or preschool-age children. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, story hours, every child ready to read programs, musical or sing-along events, and puppet shows. Include program sessions aimed at children ages 0-5 even if adult caregivers also attend. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.
752 - Attendance at Live Programs for Children Ages 0-5.
The count of the audience at all program sessions for which the primary audience is children ages 0 to 5 years. Please count all attendees of these program sessions regardless of age.
753 - Live Program Sessions for Children Ages 6-11.
A program session targeted at children ages 6-11 is any planned event for which the primary audience is elementary-school-age children. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, story hours, science events, crafting classes, and summer reading events. Include program sessions aimed at children ages 6-11 even if adult caregivers also attend with the children. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.
754 - Attendance at Live Programs for Children Ages 6-11.
The count of the audience at all program sessions for which the primary audience is children ages 6 to 11 years. Please count all attendees of these program sessions regardless of age.
755 - Live Program Sessions for Young Adults Ages 12-18.
A young adult program session is any planned event for which the primary audience is young adults ages 12 to 18 years. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, book clubs, college prep programs, teen tech or gaming clubs, and summer reading events. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience. Note: The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) defines young adults as age 12 through 18.
756 - Attendance at Live Programs for Young Adults Ages 12-18.
The count of the audience at all program sessions for which the primary audience is young adults ages 12 to 18 years. Please count all attendees of these program sessions regardless of age.
757 - Live Program Sessions for Adults Age 19 or Older.
An adult program session is any planned event for which the primary audience is adults age 19 or older. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, book discussions, citizenship classes, and lectures. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.
758 - Attendance at Live Programs for Adults Age 19 or Older.
The count of the audience at all program sessions for which the primary audience is adults age 19 or older. Please count all attendees of these program sessions regardless of age.
759 - Live General Interest Program Sessions.
A general interest program session is any planned event that is appropriate for any age group or multiple age groups. Include all-age, all-library, family, and intergenerational program sessions. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, family game nights, holiday events, storytelling programs, or chess clubs. Include all programs here that do not fit into the other age category elements. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience; do not include program sessions here that have already been counted in earlier age category elements. Avoid including program sessions that are targeted at more than one non-adult age category (and are not targeted at adults); these should be counted in the child or young adult age category that best represents the target audience.
760 - Attendance at Live General Interest Programs.
The count of the audience at program sessions that are appropriate for any age group or multiple age groups. Please count all attendees of these program sessions regardless of age.
765 - Number of Live, Virtual Program Sessions.
A synchronous (live) virtual program session is any planned event that is streamed virtually and can be viewed live as it progresses (i.e., live-streaming). Regardless of the number of formats in which a program session is offered, each program session should only be counted once and in one format category. Include virtual program sessions that are also recorded. Include program sessions hosted on Facebook Premiere that are facilitated by a staff member. Count virtual program sessions at the administrative entity level; do not duplicate numbers at each branch. Exclude program sessions that also have an in-person component; these should be counted under Number of Live, In-Person, Onsite Program Sessions or Number of Live, In-Person, Offsite Program Sessions.
766 - Live, Virtual Program Attendance.
The count of live attendance at virtual program sessions. Regardless of the number of formats in which a program session is offered, each attendee or view should only be counted once. Each attendee should be counted in the format category in which they attended or viewed the program session. Count each participant device connected to a virtual program as a single attendee. For program sessions hosted on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, or similar platforms, count peak concurrent viewers. For those hosted on videoconferencing platforms, count the maximum number of non-staff participants during the session.
For virtual program sessions that are also recorded for later, on-demand, asynchronous viewing, exclude views that occur after the session has ended; these should be counted under 767 - Total Views of Record Program Presentations. For program sessions that also have an in-person component, exclude in-person attendance; this should be counted under 762 - Live, In-Person, Onsite Program Attendance or 764 - Live, In-Person, Offsite Program Attendance.
767 - Total Number of Recorded Program Presentations.
Asynchronous program presentations are recorded videos or audio of program content that are posted online for downloading or on-demand viewing (rather than livestreaming). Only include program presentations posted during the reporting period. Include live program sessions that are recorded and posted online. Count each unique video or audio recording only once regardless of the number of platforms on which it is posted. Do not duplicate numbers at each branch; count only at the library system level.
768 - Total Views of Recorded Program Presentations within 30 Days.
Report the count of views or plays of asynchronous program presentations for a period of thirty (30) days after the presentation was posted, even if that period extends beyond the survey reporting period (or fiscal year). For program presentations made available via Facebook, count unique 1-minute views of each video. For other platforms, count unique views or plays of each video or audio recording.
780 - Number of self-directed activities
Please report the number of self-directed activities your library created throughout the year. Self-directed activities are program-like activities the library produces that do not necessitate direct staff interaction with patrons in real time. Report activities aimed at any age group. Activities can be onsite at the library, or elsewhere in the community. These may include, but are not limited to:
781 - Number of participants in self-directed activities
Please report the approximate number of patrons participating in self-directed activities. Estimates are totally OKAY. For take-&-make kits, assume a 1-kit to 1-participant ratio, unless activities were designed for families/multi-generational interaction.
