The always interesting and informative Colorado Library Research Service blog lets us knows us that the IMLS (Institute of Museum and Library Services) released files with data from the 2009 Public Libraries Survey (PLS) at the end of last week.
The new data along with data files back to 1992 can be accessed here.
From the 2009 Documentation (PDF):
The FY 2009 PLS collected the following information:
- State characteristics data, including the reporting period starting and ending dates, the official state total population estimate, and the total unduplicated population of legal service areas for the state (see the survey questionnaire in Appendix F, items 100-103). Each state library agency reported these data on the “State Characteristics” record because they are not library-level data.
- Data on each public library, such as its name and address, population of legal service area, service outlets, collections, full-time-equivalent staff, and operating revenue and expenditures (see Appendix F, items 150-651). These data were reported on the “Administrative Entity” record.
- Data on each public library service outlet, such as its name and address, type, county location, metropolitan status, and square footage (see Appendix F, items 700-712). These data were reported on the “Outlet” record.
You can also search and compare public library using an online search interface.
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