Library Lines
July 1 marked the beginning of a new fiscal year for the libraries. It also signaled the beginning of the Great Statistic Tally called Bibliostat. Every library in West Virginia compiles loads of statistics to send to the Library Commission in Charleston. They correlate all the data and then send it to the Institute of Museum and Library Services in Washington D.C. We’re all looking at trends, trying to see how libraries are being used, and how often.
During the month of July (and sometimes into August) if you hear me say “Bibliostat” you will hear weariness in my voice, or perhaps catch an eye roll. It’s a lot of tabulating at an already busy time of year. But in the end, when I finally hit the “Submit”button and then print my results, I have to admit that it’s very interesting to see where we are now in comparison to years past.
Last year we had nearly 69,000 visits to our five branches. We circulated 38,837 items, our computers were used more than 16,000 times, and more than 1,000 meetings were held. For a county with just over 8,700 residents, I think those numbers look pretty good.
It’s not a contest, of course. We don’t get any funding based on how many books we check out, or how many people come to the library. We do get funding from the state based on the county population, though. Some libraries feel a need to inflate their numbers to “look good,” but in truth, accuracy is important and looking good is very subjective.
I feel our success is measured not only by our usage, but also by the role we play in our communities. The library is a place to find information; you may be job hunting, or looking for funding for your group. We help people find medical information, legal information and local resources which can help families in various ways. Children come to learn about reading and all the joys a book can provide. We help those who have trouble reading due to vision issues. We help people with brand new Kindles or Nooks. We provide genealogy information and research guidance. I’ve even helped patrons set up eBay accounts to sell items online.
As I count how many books I loaned to other libraries, and how many e-books my patrons checked out, I hope the state and the federal government understand that libraries are more than statistics; we’re neighbors and community members. Our job is to help you find whatever it is that you are searching for; we try to provide whatever you might need. So the next time you need something, think about asking us to help. We may not know all the answers, but we sure know how to find someone who does. Information—that’s what we do.