PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING & TECHNOLOGY ACCESS STUDY 2010

PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING & TECHNOLOGY ACCESS STUDY

2010

Presented by:

Larra ClarkProject ManagerOffice for Research & StatisticsAmerican Library Association [email protected]

Denise M. Davis DirectorOffice for Research & StatisticsAmerican Library Association [email protected]

John Carlo Bertot, Ph.D.Professor and DirectorCenter for Library & Information Innovation College of Information StudiesUniversity of [email protected]

mailto:[email protected]



Webinar goals

Share high-level findings and trends from 2009-2010 report

Share new tools for using the data to support state and local planning and advocacy

Create forum for conversation around study findings and key issues related to the sustainability of public library technology

Study background

The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study assesses public access to computers, the Internet and Internet-related services in U.S. public libraries, as well as the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment and sustainability.

The project, building on work begun in 1994 by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure, is the largest and longest-running study of Internet connectivity in U.S. public libraries.

Study background

Three components to Study:o Data collected from public libraries of all sizes

through national online survey – responses come from both the branch and the system level;

o Interviews with library staff involved with the planning and deployment of public access computing and related services; site visits to a sample of libraries; and

o An annual questionnaire to State Library Agencies on key technology and funding issues.

Key messages

Healthy public libraries play a vital role in ensuring digital opportunity for all.

Libraries bring together free access to computers and the Internet, robust electronic resources and expert assistance to help people succeed and thrive online.

At a time when many Americans are facing job losses, working to gain new skills and seeking assistance in an increasingly digital world, U.S. public libraries are first responders in a time of economic uncertainty.

Key messages

As government information and resources increasingly move online, public libraries are playing a greater role in helping people access and use e-government services.

Snowballing funding cuts at state and local levels are forcing thousands of libraries to literally lock away access to these resources as they reduce operating hours.

We respect the budget issues in state and local government, but this research demonstrates that libraries are an essential service throughout the country.

2010


Finance ResultsDenise M. Davis

The differences are in the details

Different from what IMLS and State Libraries collect annually from public libraries, PLFTAS collects finance data from the director of the public library, or designee, for the following:

Operating expenditures for the current fiscal year and anticipated expenditures (operating budget) for the upcoming fiscal year

Detailed by source of funding and category of expenditure

Salaries (incl. benefits), collections, other expenditures

Salaries/Benefits for technology staff

Outside vendors Hardware/Software Telecommunications

Technology-related expenditures Detailed funding data

Revenue source categories reported include:

Local/county State (including state aid to

public libraries, or state-supported tax programs)

Federal Fees/fines Donations/local fundraising Government grants (local,

state or national level) Private foundation grants

Estimated changes during a fiscal year and future fiscal year

Current Fiscal Year (2010), Percentage of Public Library Systems that anticipate changes to its total operating budget

Metropolitan Status

Urban Suburban Rural Overall

Remain unchanged

37.0% 56.0% 55.8% 54.8%

(n=192) (n=1649) (n=2995) (n=4836)

Decrease43.2% 28.3% 24.0% 26.6%

(n=224) (n=833) (n=1289) (n=2346)

Increase8.5% 8.7% 13.3% 11.5%

(n=44) (n=256) (n=713) (n=1013)

Don’t Know11.4% 7.0% 6.9% 7.2%

(n=59) (n=206) (n=373) (n=638)

Detailed technology expenditures

Average Percentage Change Fiscal Year 2009-2010 Public Library System Technology Budget Stability by Metropolitan Status

Metropolitan Status

Operating Budget Urban Suburban Rural

Increased up to 2% 1.3% 1.8% 2.4%

Increased 2.1-4% 2.7% 1.6% 1.5%

Increased 4.1-6% 3.4% 0.9% 0.7%

Increased more than 6% -10.1% -4.2% -4.2%

Decreased up to 2% -1.7% -2.2% -1%

Decreased 2.1-4%

Decreased 4.1-6% 0.3%

Decreased more than 6% -1.6% -2.3% -1.6%

Stayed the same 3% 1.9% 1.2%

Georgia reported state funding reductions greater than 7 percent each year for the past three fiscal years. When we look at data reported by public libraries in Georgia we can interpret declines in reported funding from State sources and increases in other areas of funding to compensate for the corresponding decline.

State Libraries surveyed Qualitative data to support quantitative reporting

Visit states to understand what is happening “on the ground”.

Why do we collect the detail we do?

To specifically understand public access computing trends

To understand support for technology – the financial kind – we must ask about sources of revenue to support public access computing

Together, these data provide early forecasting about public library funding and expenditures that ALA and others use to advocate for libraries.

How are data analyzed?

Total response (Figure 10)

Metropolitan status Detail by pre-assigned metropolitan codes of rural, suburban,

urban (Figure 12)

Population served ranges Using the ALA Public Library Association population range

divisions, the data are secondarily analyzed by those ranges to identify trends not observable by metropolitan status detail alone.

Figure 10: FY2011 Public Library Systems Average Total Operating Expenditures, by Type and Funding Source Sources of Funding Salaries (including

benefits)Collections Other Expenditures

Local/county$970,967

(n=4,682)

$188,512

(n=3,919)

$421,282

(n=3,558)

State (including state aid to public libraries, or state-supported tax programs)

$214,336

(n=846)

$49,689

(n=1,431)

$67,362

(n=1,094)

Federal$45,584

(n=65)

$6,833

(n=109)

$40,554

(n=342)

Fees/fines$33,520

(n=316)

$19,692

(972)

$31,584

(n=814)

Donations/local fundraising

$19,712

(n=318)

$13,543

(n=1,483)

$20,974

(n=1,177)

Government grants (local, state or national level)

$52,934

(n=201)

$9,460

(n=458)

$34,799

(n=559)Private foundation grants

(e.g., Carnegie, Ford, Gates, etc.)

$25,485

(n=125)

$9,898

(n=365)

$19,764

(n=837)

Reported average total$966,713

(n=4,925)

$183,951

(n=4,663)

$398,685

(n=4,205)

Reported average percent 25.7%

Figure 12: FY2011 Urban Public Library Systems Average Total Operating Expenditures, by Type and Funding Source

Sources of FundingSalaries (including

benefits)Collections Other Expenditures

Local/county$7,592,162

(n=302)

$1,312,457

(n=271)

$2,903,942

(n=271)


$1,096,864

(n=68)

$235,936

(n=126)

$463,560

(n=77)

Federal$76,429

(n=9)

$8,587

(n=3)

$256,004

(n=38)

Fees/fines$406,143

(n=16)

$166,352

(n=49)

$226,604

(n=59)

Donations/local fundraising

$70,492

(n=14)

$58,373

(n=86)

$127,368

(n=77)


$313,606

(n=16)

$16,885

(n=17)

$257,139

(n=49)

Private foundation grants (e.g., Carnegie, Ford, Gates, etc.)

$128,528

(n=10)

$45,830

(n=26)

$79,003

(n=49)

Reported average total$7,665,262

(n=311)

$1,315,000

(n=304)

$2,951,836

(n=295)

Reported average percent 64.2% 11.0% 24.7%

FY2010-2011 trends

Finance data as indicators of change Real-time finance data Weighted to calculate national estimates PLFTAS estimates have been confirmed in later IMLS

annual public library reports A 2006 ALA study revealed that libraries follow a set pattern of

reducing expenditures when economies are down – they cut collection expenses first, then other expenses (like programming, repairs, equipment upgrades, OPAC upgrades, etc.), then reduce staff expenses last.

Operating Budget, Percentage Change FY2009 and FY2010

Urban Suburban Rural All

2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009 2010 2009

Increased up to 6%

28.2% 47.3% 35.1% 51.1% 38.8% 50.6% 37.0% 50.5%

Increased 6% or more

5.2% 10.6% 5.2% 9.0% 7.2% 9.4% 6.7% 9.4%

Decreased less than 6%

24.2% 14.7% 24.2% 13.0% 15.5% 8.9% 17.1% 10.6%

Decreased more than 6%

30.4% 7.4% 17.4% 3.6% 11% 3.3% 14.3% 3.7%

Stayed same 11.4% 19.9% 22.7% 23.3% 27.5% 27.8% 25% 25.9%

Regardless of metropolitan status, fewer libraries reported any increases in operating budgets in FY2010 from FY2009, and more libraries reported operating budget decreases.

Figure: Average Percentage Change from Fiscal Years 2010 to 2011 Expected Technology Budget Stability, by Metropolitan Status

Metropolitan Status

Operating Budget Urban Suburban Rural Overall

Increased up to 2% -3.7% 3.9% 0.6% 1.4%

Increased 2.1-4% 0.1% 0.7% 1.8% 1.3%

Increased 4.1-6% 1.6% 1% 0.3% 0.6%

Increased 6.1-10% -1.7% -0.1% 0.2% 0%

Increased more than 10% -1.6% -2.5% -1.5% -1.9%

Decreased up to 2% -2.0% -0.2% -0.1% -0.3%

Decreased 2.1-4% 0.1% 0.1% 0% 0%

Decreased 4.1-6% 0.5% 0.2% 0.4% 0.3%

Decreased 6.1-10% 2% -1.1% -0.1% -0.4%

Decreased more than 10% -3.9% -1.2% -0.7% -1.1%

Stayed the same 8.5% -0.8% -0.7% -0.1%

Overall, technology-related expenditures have declined and this figure shows what libraries expect in the 2011 operating year.

Urban libraries report an anticipated decline in increased technology spending in 2011 – 5.3% reporting any increase, while 3.9% anticipate less drastic cuts (-3.9% anticipating decreases of more than 10%). The number of urban libraries anticipating level funding rose 8.5% from FY2010.

Suburban libraries report similar shifts, with 2.5% fewer reporting increases of 10% or more.

Rural libraries anticipate little change – already challenged financially.

FY2009-2010 Change in the Average Total Technology-Related Operating Expenditures, All Public Libraries

Sources of Funding Salaries (including benefits) Outside Vendors Hardware/ SoftwareTelecommunication

s

Local/county$30,445 $7,875 ($2,411) ($1,635)

30.2% 30.3% -6% -7.4%


$33,539 $960 $9,199 $12,523

258.1% 9.5% 71.7% 147.1%

Federal$31,134 $22,235 $23,997 $17,951

6045.4% 1088.9% 279.3% 110.5%

Fees/fines$3,015 ($153) $4,322 $3,907

489.4% -3.9% 305.9% 281.5%

Donations/local fundraising$5,451 $13,466 $1,804 $15,632

647.4% 928.0% 62.4% 2350.7%


$10,098 $8,164 $1,707 $11,910

1480.6% 1042.7% 27.8% 748.6%

Private foundation grants(e.g., Carnegie, Ford, Gates, etc.)

$5,644 $6,121 $577 $17,293

860.4% 869.5% 7.6% 1958.4%

Reported average total $119,326 $58,668 $39,195 $77,581

Reported average percent 201.9% 230.4% 149% 251.2%

The FY2009-FY2010 change in average technology-related expenditures for all library systems reporting are presented in this figure.

FY2009-FY2010 change in average technology-related expenditures

In FY2009-2010 libraries tried to maintain funding for technology, while overall operating expenditures showed declines in other areas.

Note the proportional variation in reported expenditures for funding sources – state, federal, etc.

Note the decline in expenditures from local/county sources for hardware/software and telecommunications. Those expenditures were picked up in other revenue categories.

Also keep in mind the impact of a few urban or suburban libraries spending more and the impact on deriving national estimates.

Finance Indicators and Local Use

The finance data, with the source detail, expose patterns of reallocating expenditures to or away from tax sources (e.g., local, state, federal) to/away from soft funding sources (e.g., fees/fines, donations, grants, etc.).

The soft funding categories detailed in PLFTAS are aggregated to an “other” category in national data from IMLS.

Knowing the range of funding sources and the proportion of expenditures going to each helps libraries Understand what similar libraries are spending. Plan more effectively for maintaining or improving the infrastructure for

public access computing services. Advocate for stable funding of technology-related expenditures that

support essential public access computing services.

John Carlo BertotCenter for Library & Information InnovationCollege of Information StudiesUniversity of [email protected]


Selected Findings from the 2009-2010 National Survey

Why the Survey?

Longitudinal data collection since 1994 Provides snapshot of

Library public access technology infrastructure Capacity Internet-enabled services Challenges and issues Funding

Why the Survey?

Informs policy makers of what libraries do in their communities in key areas of Access to the Internet Access to increasingly digital-only content and

services Employment E-government Databases More

Digital literacy

Methodology

To generate both national and state data, the 2009-2010 survey used Proportionate sample based on MSA and state with

replacement Weighted analysis the 2007 IMLS public library dataset as the universe

file Received 7,391 responses for a 83.4% response

rate

Key Findings and Issues

Community Access Points 66.6 percent of library

branches report that they are the only provider of free public computer and Internet access in their

Overall, public library branches report an average of 14.2 public access workstations, up from 11.0 in 2008-2009

Community Access Points

82.2 percent of public library branches offer wireless Internet access, up from 76.4 percent reported in 2008-2009

Libraries offer a range of technology and information literacy classes

Library usage is up across the board

Broadband

14.8% libraries report public access connection speeds of less than 1.5mbps

27.4% 1.5mbps 33.4% 1.6mbps-10mbps 18.4 greater than

10mbps 53.0% of rural libraries

report public access speeds of 1.5mbps or less

77.2% of urban libraries and 55.4%of suburban libraries report public access speeds of greater than 1.5mbps

E-government

88.8% help people understand and use government websites 78.7% help people apply for E-government services 66.3% help people complete E-government forms

Employment

88.2% provide job databases and resources 74.9% provide civil service examination materials 68.9% offer software and resources for resume creation 67.1% help people complete online applications

Key Issues and Challenges

Costs Staff Technology – upgrades, replacement, maintenance

Buildings Space Cabling/wiring

Staff Number Expertise

Increased usage Library in general and Public access technology in particular


Adequacy of infrastructure


Urban stress More services and aggregate capacity, but…

More likely to report reduced hours (23.7% compared to 14.5% overall)

More likely to report inadequate Broadband (52.2% inadequate connection some or all of the

time as compared to 45.1% overall) Workstations (39.6% consistently fewer workstations than

necessary compared to 18.2% overall)

Trends and Implications

Investment in basic technology infrastructure (i.e., broadband, workstations, wi-fi) But not library’s

Capacity Staffing Hours available Building

Increasingly services are shifting to user devices such as smart phones This will require additional development and

investment

Some Concluding Comments

Increased usage does not translate into increased budget Nice to have, not essential service

ARRA/Broadband - $7.2 Billion NTIA/BTOP RUS/BIP

FCC National Broadband Plan IMLS and CBO principles/guidelines

Digital literacy Significant opportunities, but some

substantial challenges

Additional Resources

Issue briefs in key areas of: Libraries and Broadband Libraries and Community Access Libraries and E-government Libraries and Employment

Available at www.plinternetsurvey.orgMore coming – state/national comparisons in areas of

employment and E-government

Looking Ahead: Planning for rapidly changing content formats

Unlike shelving that is purchased once and replaced infrequently, and which has a life of decades, technology-related infrastructure changes annually.

Technology-related infrastructure is at the core of how libraries operate. Without adequate and stable funding, this infrastructure will suffer.

Public access computing is far more visible than print resources. When there is a wait list for a book, library patrons are patient. When a resources is accessible only via a computer and that computer is down, or the hardware/software is inadequate to support access to valuable library resources, the patron sees that and is far less forgiving.

As libraries move ever more quickly to non-print resources, maintaining and improving the public access computing infrastructure is critical. Without adequate hardware, software, and Internet access speeds libraries will be unable to provide the services its community requires.

QUESTIONS?


2010

Wrap up

Stay connected, join the conversation:o Follow ala_ors Twitter feedo Send us links to your Flckr photoso Check out new blog starting in September:

ors.ala.org/libconnect Participate in the 2010-2011 national public library

survey starting September 7: www.plinternetsurvey.org

Find links to all study materials and related resources online at www.ala.org/plinternetfunding

Thank you!

Documents

PUBLIC LIBRARY FUNDING & TECHNOLOGY ACCESS STUDY 2010