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STATE LIBRARY AGENCIES SURVEY

PURPOSE

The U.S. Census Bureau collects the State Library Agencies (StLA) Survey data for the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS), in collaboration with the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), to provide state and federal policymakers, researchers, and other interested users with descriptive information about state library agencies. IMLS is authorized to collect these data under the Museum and Library Services Act of 2003.

COVERAGE

The data are collected from the 50 states and the District of Columbia.

CONTENT

The data includes state library agency identification, governance, public service hours, service outlets, collections, library service transactions, library development transactions, services to other libraries in the state, allied operations, staff, income, expenditures, and electronic services and information.

FREQUENCY

Since 1994, data collection occurs annually during October-February.

METHODS

The data are collected over the Internet, via a Web based reporting system. The Web survey application includes a user guide explaining its features and operation, the data entry form and instructions, and an edit check tool. It was designed to minimize response burden, to improve the timeliness and quality of the data and to minimize follow-up for data problems.

PRODUCTS

IMLS provides the annual tabulations report and survey universe file that users can download from the Internet. For additional information, visit the IMLS State Library Agencies Web page.

SPECIAL FEATURES

Provides the core statistics needed for current and historical analysis of academic libraries and their programs.

USES

These data collected are useful to Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), policymakers in the executive and legislative branches of federal and state governments, government and library administrators at the federal, state, and local levels, the American Library Association and its members or customers, library and public policy researchers, the public, journalists, and others.

RELATED PROGRAMS

Academic Libraries Survey

Public Libraries Survey

You are here: Economic Programs Overview Governments State Libraries Agency Survey