Section 7: Library Services — Hours, Visits, Reference, Circulation
Hours
7.1 Hours Open, All Outlets
This is the auto-calculated sum of annual public service hours from the outlet and bookmobile sections.
Visits
7.2 Library Visits
This is the total number of persons entering the library for whatever purpose during the year.
Note: If an actual count of visits is unavailable, determine an annual estimate by counting visits during a typical week in October and multiplying the count by 52. 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 the library. Choose a week in which the library is open its regular hours. Include seven consecutive calendar days, from Sunday through Saturday (or whenever the library is usually open).
7.3 Library visits reporting method
Regarding the number of Library Visits (data element #7.2) entered, is this an annual count or an annual estimate based on a typical week or weeks?
Select one of the following:
- CT—Annual Count
- ES—Annual Estimate Based on Typical Week(s)
Reference
7.4 Reference Transactions
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.
A reference transaction includes information and referral service, scheduled and unscheduled individual instruction and assistance in using information sources (including websites and computer-assisted instruction).
Count Readers Advisory questions as reference transactions.
Information sources include
- printed and nonprinted material;
- machine-readable databases (including computer-assisted instruction);
- the library’s own catalogs and other holdings records;
- other libraries and institutions through communication or referral; and
- persons both inside and outside the library.
When a staff member uses information gained from previous use of information sources to answer a question, the transaction is reported as a reference transaction even if the source is not consulted again.
If a contact includes both reference and directional services, it should be reported as one reference transaction.
Duration should not be an element in determining whether a transaction is a reference transaction.
Do not include transactions that include only a directional service, such as instruction for locating staff, library users, or physical features within the library. Examples of directional transactions include, “Where is the reference librarian? Where is Susan Smith? Where is the rest room? Where are the 600s? Can you help me make a photocopy?”
7.5 Reference transactions reporting method
Regarding the number of Reference Transactions (data element #7.3) entered, is this an annual count or an annual estimate based on a typical week or weeks?
Select one of the following:
- CT—Annual Count
- ES—Annual Estimate Based on Typical Week(s)
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.
Overdue Fine Policy
7.6 Do you charge late fines for late return of physical materials?
As of the end of the reporting period, does the library charge overdue fines to any users when they fail to return physical print materials by the date due?
Note: Overdue fines are monetary penalties that typically increase according to the number of days the materials are overdue. Overdue fines are not replacement costs for lost or damaged materials.
7.7 Charge per day for Adults
Enter amount of charged per item, per day late
7.8 Charge per day for Teens
Enter amount of charged per item, per day late
7.9 Charge per day for Children
Enter amount of charged per item, per day late
Circulation of Physical Materials
7.10 Physical Item Circulation
The total annual circulation of ALL physical library materials of all types, including renewals.
7.11 Circulation of Children’s Materials
The total annual circulation of all children’s materials in all physical formats to all users, including renewals. Include circulation of other physical items for children (e.g., kits, games, technology). If possible, do not include materials for teens/young adults.
7.12 Circulation of Non-English Materials
Count of total non-English language materials in all formats (Adult, YA, and Children’s) circulated annually.
7.13 Circulation of Internet-enabled Devices
Includes laptops, Chromebooks, other devices that enable user to access the internet. Count only check-out that allow patron to take the device home; do not count check-outs for in-library use.
7.14 Circulation of Internet Hotspots
7.15 Circulation of Other Physical Items
Circulation of all physical items other than print books, physical audio units, physical video units, hotspots, laptops, and serials, including renewals. These are materials in a fixed, physical format available for use outside the library. These can include a variety of items types, such as sewing machines, cake pans, tools, telescopes, board games, video games, etc.
Note: Count all physical materials in all formats that are charged out for use outside the library. Interlibrary loan transactions included are only items borrowed for users. Do not include items checked out to another library.
7.16 Automatic Renewal of Physical Materials
Did your library offer automatic renewal for any physical materials during the reporting period? Answer yes or no. If unknown, report “Missing.”
Note: Patrons do not have to take any action for automatic renewals. The Integrated Library System [ILS] rules determine how/when automatic renewals occur.
Inter-Library Loans
These are library materials, or copies of the materials, provided to or received from one autonomous library to another upon request. The libraries involved in interlibrary loans are not under the same library administration. “Library Administration” means Administrative Entity (not anything broader). Do not include items loaned between outlets within the same library administrative entity. These data are reported as annual figures.
7.17 Inter-library Loans to others
Annual count of items provided via ILL to other libraries.
7.18 Inter-library Loans received
Annual count of items received via ILL from other libraries.
Circulation of Electronic Materials
Electronic (digital) materials can be accessed online from an electronic device. Types of electronic materials include e-books, e-serials, e-audio, and e-video. Only count items that require user authentication and have a limited period of use. Count all checkouts, including renewals.
7.19 eBook Circulation
The total circulation of eBooks during the reporting period.
eBooks are the digital equivalent of printed books that may be accessed online from an electronic device. E-books also include e-comics. If unknown, report “missing.”
7.20 eSerial Circulation
The total circulation of eSerials during the reporting period.
eSerials are periodic digital publications equivalent to printed newspapers, magazines, and similar media that are viewed as entire issues rather than as single articles returned from a research query. If unknown, report “missing.”
7.21 eAudio Circulation
The total circulation of eAudio during the reporting period.
eAudio are digital files of sound only (e.g., audiobooks, music) that may be accessed online from an electronic device. If unknown, report “missing.”
7.22 eVideo Circulation
The total circulation of eVideos during the reporting period. eVideos are digital files of moving visual images (e.g., movies, television shows) with or without sound that may be accessed online from an electronic device. If unknown, report “missing.”
7.23 Total Circulation of eMaterials
Automatically calculated. This is the sum of eBook, eSerial, eAudio, and eVideo circulation.
7.24 Total Circulation of Materials
Auto-calculated: The sum of Physical Item Circulation and Circulation of eMaterials