Public Library Funding and Technology Access Survey: Using, Visualizing, and Contextualizing the Data

John Carlo Bertot

Information Policy & Access CenterCollege of Information StudiesUniversity of Marylandjbertot@umd.eduwww.plinternetsurvey.org (survey materials)ipac.umd.edu (research center)

Discussion

• PLFTAS background• Service context• Changes in library services and

resources• Changes in information• Changes in technologies• Social issues and needs

• PLFTAS products• Next steps/scenarios

Why the Survey?Longitudinal data collection since

1994Provides snapshot of what

libraries offer their communities:◦Library public access technology

infrastructure◦Capacity◦Internet-enabled services◦Challenges and issues◦Funding

Why the Survey?Informs policymakers about 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◦ Digital inclusion

Resides in the larger evolving information and technology context

Changes in Services and Use

Print Collections

Non-Print Collections

Reference

Changing Depository LandscapeAs GPO celebrates 150 years as a

printer◦97% of government information is

born digital◦Depository program in transition

Do we need 1200+ physical collections?

To SummarizeWe are moving (and have been)

away from a service based on physical collections designed to pull people to our buildings

Just in time, as opposed to just in case

Self-serve

Changes in Information

Changes in InformationQuantity and Availability

◦An LoC of indexing everyday◦24 hours of video loaded on YouTube every

minute◦Average of 144 million tweets per day

50 million tweets per day one year ago

Speed of information◦Within minutes of your tweet, it’s indexed and

searchable in Google◦What used to require effort is at your fingertips

Not reinventing the search - chances are it’s been sought before and captured

◦Connection is instantaneous

Speed

Google Public Data Explorer http://www.google.com/publicdata/explore

Changes in InformationInteracting in New Ways

◦Google 3D http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse

/

http://sketchup.google.com/3dwarehouse/details?mid=ddc839e17656ed9759bdbb2775b3c747&prevstart=0

Changes in InformationInformation is Social

◦More is out there◦More is connected

Through social media

◦More is shared◦Crowdsourcing enables more uses,

sharing, problem solving through concentrated bursts of information sharing

Plane Spotting & CIA Rendition

SummaryMore information, more directly to

usersOur ability to access, use, and

interact with information is changingInformation is increasingly enhanced

and linked in a range of waysThe social nature of information

enables stronger ties between people, communities, information sources, information providers

Changes in Technology

Smartphones Devices35% own

a smartphone overall

Tablet & E-reader Ownership

Tablets and E-readers

http://www.searchenginejournal.com/the-growth-of-social-media-an-infographic/32788/

Social Media

Siri – Ready Reference at Your Fingertips

SummaryNew technologies

◦ Allow for different experience with information◦ New understandings of information◦ Place information at user access instantly◦ Offer “ready reference”

Changes in library use and requested services◦ Less about circulation and reference◦ More about facilitation and intermediation

Education Health E-government Employment

Why this Survey?In a world of sound bites like

◦“ebooks are the future of libraries”◦“it’s all on the Internet”◦“access is cheap, or free, and everywhere”

In an evolving technology, information, and services landscape, we need data about◦How libraries transform their communities◦Libraries in relation to their communities

The role of public access technology-based services

Showing Libraries in their Communities

http://plinternetsurvey.org/dataviz/

Participation

Broadband – Population Density

Broadband – FCC Underserved

Employment 90.9% provide job databases and resources 77.0% provide civil service examination materials 74.5% offer software and resources for resume

creation 71.9% help people complete online applications

Partner with outside agencies for job application assistance

Online job application assisstance

Resume assistance

Civil service exam materials

Jobs databases and other resources

0.0% 10.0% 20.0% 30.0% 40.0% 50.0% 60.0% 70.0% 80.0% 90.0% 100.0%

29.4%

71.9%

74.5%

77.0%

90.9%

23.6%

67.1%

68.9%

74.9%

88.2%

Job Seeking Services in Public Libraries 2010-2011

2010 2011

Employment by Unemployment

My Library/Library Lookup

Library Lookup – Mobile

Indicators Composition of various

elements (e.g., e-government):◦ Library staff provided assistance

to patrons applying for or accessing e-government services

◦ Library staff provided assistance to patrons for completing government forms

◦ The library offered training classes regarding the use of government Web sites, understanding government programs, and completing electronic forms

◦ The library partnered with government agencies, non-profit organizations, and others to provide e-government services

◦ The library had at least one staff member with expertise and skills in the provision of e-government services

Narrativeswww.plinternetsurvey.org

◦Topical http

://plinternetsurvey.org/analysis/public-libraries-and-digital-literacy

◦State http://plinternetsurvey.org/advocacy/state

-details?id=TX

Key Issues and ChallengesMoving the data closer to the

communityConnecting to other datasets

◦Library in the context of the community

Data plus off-the-shelf products◦Visualizations◦Issue briefs◦One-page summaries

What Does the Future Hold?

More traditional◦ Reports (June

2012)◦ Issue briefs

(January/February 2012)

◦ PLFTAS one-page summaries (January/February 2012)

◦ One-page advocacy Leg Day (April 2012)

New◦ Visualizations

(now and January/February 2012) Static Pan and zoom

◦ Lookup January/February

2012

◦ APIs◦ GIS

http://bit.ly/vDnmcH

Continuum of products from ready-to-use to wonkish

What Does the Future Hold?

Sunrise?◦ NLG Grant◦ Modified survey

Sunset?◦ As much utility as

possible◦ Historical datasets

Thank You

John Carlo BertotInformation Policy & Access CenterUniversity of Marylandjbertot@umd.eduipac.umd.edu www.plinternsurvey.orgTwitter: @iPAC_UMD; #PLFTAS

@jcbertot