General The Community Technology Centers' Network Library Research Service NEEDS AND ASSETS ASSESSMENT RESOURCES Community Analysis Methods and Evaluative Options: The CAMEO Handbook New Pathways to Planning Florida Cooperative Extension's Electronic Data Information Source Library Research Service Community Analysis Scan Form New Mexico State Library IMPACT MEASUREMENT RESOURCES WebJunction Library Use Value Calculator Two well-known academic projects on measuring the impact of libraries include: E-Metrics ADVOCACY RESOURCES Public Library Association (PLA) Smartest Card Campaign The SPIN Project Staying Connected Toolkit DATA RESOURCES The Census Bureau Local Chambers of Commerce GeoLib ADDITIONAL RESOURCES FOR FAST FACTS City-Data.com FedStats
Needs and Assets Assessment Resources
Impact Measurement Resources
Advocacy Resources
Data Resources
Additional Resources for Fast Facts
GENERAL
WebJunction
WebJunction.org is an online community where library staff can share ideas, solve problems, take online courses, and gain access to a variety of information and materials on all aspects of library development and sustainability. WebJunction users can learn about library policies, research and statistics, technology planning, marketing, funding, program planning, and more. Materials from "Promoting Public Libraries: Using Data and Advocacy to Build Public Support and Funding" are posted on WebJunction for all users at here. Additional resources for rural and small libraries can be found at http://webjunction.org/Rural.
www.webjunction.org
The Community Technology Centers' Network (CTCNet) is a U.S.-based network of more than 1,000 organizations united in their commitment to improve the educational, economic, cultural, and political lives of their communities through technology. CTCNet provides resources and advocacy to improve the quality and sustainability of community technology centers and programs at the local, national, and international levels. One of CTCNet's top priorities is locating and sharing the most useful resources available for Community Technology Centers. Its interactive Resource Center is an online tool designed to share resources on program development, research, organizational management, and sustainability. Resources are free and searchable by topic and by type.
www.ctcnet.org/resources/dir
The Library Research Service, a unit of the Colorado State Library and the Colorado Department of Education, generates library statistics and research for library and education professionals, public officials, and the media. Its Resources for Community Analysis and Library Tools sections provide hands-on resources for librarians to collect and utilize statistics and data related to libraries.
www.lrs.org/asp_public/community.asp
Arizona State Library, Archives and Public Records
This collection development training Web site for libraries includes a community needs assessment tutorial.
http://www.lib.az.us/cdt/commneeds.aspx
This handbook was prepared by the Consulting Librarians Group, for the Library of Virginia It provides background information and tools to help gather information about libraries and the communities they serve.
http://skyways.lib.ks.us/pathway/cameo/index.htm
A tool customized for use by librarians in small and medium sized Kansas communities as they do strategic planning. Valuable resources for community assessment in "Profiling Your Community". Created by Northeast Kansas Library System (NEKLS), Martha Hale, Patti Butcher, and Cindi Hickey. http://skyways.lib.ks.us/pathway/index.html
"Conducting a Community Needs Assessment: Primary Data Collection Techniques" by Keith A. Carter and Lionel J. Beaulieu is an article providing a useful perspective on the pros and cons of various needs assessment techniques.
http://www.reachyouthprogram.org/system/files/PrimaryDataCollection.pdf
This template from the Library Research Service is an example of a survey that can help define the demographics of your community.
www.lrs.org/asp_public/ca_form.asp
Community Tool Box Assessing Community Needs and Resources Workplan
Maintained by the Work Group on Health Promotion and Community Development at the University of Kansas in Lawrence, this Web site provides a substantial tutorial on the different tasks necessary to develop and implement a needs assessment.
http://ctb.ku.edu/tools/en/chapter_1003.htm
The New Mexico State Library planning Web site includes sample and template planning documents for community needs assessment, collections development, long-range planning, staff development, marketing, and technology planning.
www.stlib.state.nm.us/newsite/print.php?id=236_0_14_0
Cost Benefit Analysis Manual for Medium Sized and Smaller Public Libraries
This manual provides detailed instructions and tools that small and mid-sized libraries can use to conduct a cost-benefit analysis of their services. The work was funded by an Institute for Museum and Library Studies (IMLS) grant to the St. Louis Public Library.
http://www.webjunction.org/funding-strategies/articles/content/439951
In 2004 and 2005, WebJunction provided users a monthly article on demonstrating the impact of libraries, which offered case studies and links to relevant online and print resources.
http://www.webjunction.org/funding-strategies/articles/content/436883
What is your library worth to you? How much would you pay out-of-pocket for your library services? Use this tool from the Maine State Library. http://www.maine.gov/msl/services/calculator.htm
Outcomes Toolkit
This book and online toolkit for conducting outcome-based evaluations takes users through a four-step process that helps them collect, analyze, and use data. The toolkit is funded by the Institute for Museum and Library Studies.http://ibec.ischool.washington.edu/toolkit.php
This is a Florida State University Information Use Management Policy Institute School of Information Studies project to help libraries measure the use and impact of electronic resources and services.
www.ii.fsu.edu/emis
The American Library Association (ALA) Advocacy Resource Center
ALA has recently launched the Advocacy Resource Center, designed to provide members and advocates with easy-to-find advocacy tools and resources. Key features of the Web site include links to statistics and reports, a communications handbook for libraries, summaries of library-related legislative issues, and topical advocacy tools for librarians.
http://www.ala.org/ala/aboutala/offices/ola/issuesadvocacy.cfm
The PLA Smartest Card campaign goal is to make the library card the most valued and used card in every wallet. PLA is currently developing a toolkit for librarians across the country to use to showcase the value of public libraries based on demonstrated impact, research, and stories. Check the PLA Web site in early summer for access to the toolkit.
www.pla.org
The SPIN Project publishes books, articles, workbooks, and a monthly e-newsletter dealing with aspects of strategic advocacy communications with an emphasis on media outreach. It also houses online tutorials that provide step-by-step guides to specific communications skills, from building a strategic communications plan to developing relationships with reporters. New tutorials are added regularly.
www.spinproject.org
The Staying Connected Toolkit is designed to help libraries engage local communities in their technology programs and enlist their help in sustaining them. In addition to providing specific steps on how to gain financial, political, and technical support in states and communities, the kit also includes "good ideas"-examples of unique and successful programs created by libraries around the country.
www.gatesfoundation.org
The National Center for Education Statistics
The National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), located within the U.S. Department of Education and the Institute of Education Sciences, is the primary federal entity for collecting and analyzing data related to education. Its Library Statistics Program sponsors surveys on academic libraries, public libraries, school library media centers, and state library agencies, and provides a variety of searchable databases and surveys. Statistics are collected from more than 9,000 public libraries. Data are available for individual public libraries, as well as at the state and national levels.
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries
The Census Bureau serves as the country's main source of data about the nation's people and economy. A wealth of data tools including State and County QuickFacts, county and area business patterns, and demographic and population information can be easily accessed through the bureau's Web site.
www.census.gov
Local chambers of commerce are often good sources of information about a city's population, community, and economics. The link below provides a searchable map of local chambers throughout the United States.
www.uschamber.com/chambers/directory/default.htm
GeoLib is a research program of the Institute of Science and Public Affairs at Florida State University that offers a Public Library Geographic Database (PLGDB). The database includes the locations of America's 16,000 public libraries, population characteristics from the U.S. Census that best describe people that use libraries, and library use statistics from the National Center for Educational Statistics.
www.geolib.org/PLGDB.cfm
Department of Labor
The Department of Labor Web site provides job statistics for each state.
www.dol.state.[your state's name here].us
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Web site provides public health statistics.
www.cdc.gov
City-Data.com collects and analyzes comprehensive data from numerous sources to create complete and interesting profiles of all U.S. cities. Users can type in their city or town's name and state to access data on mid- to small-sized populations.
www.city-data.com
FedStats provides access to a full range of official statistical information available to the public from the U.S. federal government. The information is published by more than 100 federal agencies. Users can access this information without having to know in advance which agency produces the statistics.
www.fedstats.gov
Documents
| Online Resources for Rural Librarians Promoting Public Libraries |
From the March 2006 workshop, Promoting Public Libraries: Using Data and Advocacy to Build Public Support and Funding, a list of web resources for rural librarians, covering the topics discussed in the workshop.
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