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CT Library Community

CT Library Community, Statistics
Connecticut Public Libraries are #1 in New England
August 17th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?

2009 Public Library Survey data, just released from the Institute of Museum and Library Services, shows that Connecticut Public Libraries top the other New England states in important use and support measures. Connecticut has the highest per-capita totals for Circulation, Materials Expenditures, MLS Librarians, Library Staff, Total Operating Income, and Operating Income from Local Taxes.

This PDF report shows how Connecticut fares against the other New England states.
Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community
Budget News
July 15th, 2011 | Permalink | Comment?
Statement posted to Conntech, July 15, 2011

Connecticut Libraries:

The Governor has submitted his Budget Balancing Plan to the legislature. It includes substantial cuts to the State Library’s budget. We will be cut by approximately one quarter or $2,760,034.

The reductions include:
- A substantial reduction in State Library personnel (10 positions)
- A substantial reduction in operating expenses
- Over one-half reduction in library materials
- Elimination of the remaining funding for State Grants to Public Libraries
- Elimination of funding for the Connecticut Library Consortium
- Elimination of the state-wide catalog (reQuest). If this plan is implemented reQuest will be unavailable as of September 1st. The State Library will make every effort to mitigate the impact of this reduction and to maintain access to the iCONN databases.
- iCONN databases will be maintained at the current level. No additional databases will be added as planned (CINAHL full-text and national newspapers).
- Elimination of the Computer Access Program. This has no impact on libraries.
- There is a small reduction in Connecticar which will not impact delivery services.
- There will be no further reduction in Connecticard.
Not all these reductions were at the discretion of the State Library. We were not allowed to call for reductions of any service mandated by statute – by a definition provided by OPM. This prevented some recommendations such as closing either service center.

Please remember that all of these reductions could be rescinded if the unions reconsider their rejection of the concession agreement. This will probably not be settled until the end of August.

The State Library regrets these reductions and remains committed to work with the library community to mitigate their impact.

Sharon Brettschneider
Connecticut State Library
CT Library Community, Statistics
New Annual Report, New Questions
January 24th, 2011 | Permalink | 1 Comment

Are you one of those involved in filling out the Public Library Annual Report/Survey? If so, you may want to look at a list of some of the new questions you can expect to labor with this fall. We have posted an Expected Changes for FY2011 Public Library Annual Report/Survey which lists the new questions. Among the changes (most due to federal requirements) we are asking libraries to separate their counts of electronic (e-book, downloadable audio/video) collections from physical print, audio, and video collections. Also, we are consolidating the Annual ILL report so that reports on ILL are done here in the Annual Report rather than in separate ILL reports previously due in August.

Please contact me with questions and comments.
Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community, Statistics
Public Libraries Continue to Feel the Effects of the Recession
December 1st, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?
Library Use Up in FY2010, Income and Staff Fall

According to recent data submitted by public libraries in Connecticut, library use statistics all rose again in the 2009-2010 fiscal year.
- Circulation – up 4%
- Library visits – up 2%
- Program attendance – up 5%
- Number of public access internet workstations – up 6% (up 45% in 5 years)
At the same time:
- Operating Income dropped for the first time in over 15 years.
- The number of full-time equivalent employees in public libraries is at its lowest level since the year 2000.
- 34 principal public libraries would have been ineligible for the 2011 state grant because of insufficient town tax support (most years see about 4 libraries ineligible) . But this requirement was waived this year.
See the latest charts showing year to year trends in CT public libraries.

For more statistical information on public libraries in fiscal year 2009-2010, see the preliminary Statistical Profile.

Thanks go out to all those library directors and staff who labored again this year to provide the State Library with your library’s annual report. We appreciate your efforts!
CT Library Community, Grants and Reimbursements, Library Development
West Hartford Public Library’s LSTA project: FAIR
November 3rd, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Check out the success story of the West Hartford Public Library’s current LSTA project on WebJunction Connecticut’s Grants Success Stories page.

Despite being a recently launched project, FAIR (Facilitating Access to Information and Resources) details some best practices that all libraries can use regarding services to persons with sensory and/or physical disabilities.

The project enabled a simple staff development day to turn into a transformative experience.

Staff at the West Hartford Libraries practice caning (a.k.a light sabering)
CT Library Community, Web technology
Don’t Miss Out on the Treasures Project
October 27th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

This new article in the summer issue of the CONNector helps describe a great project to help libraries digitize their local historical material and make it available on the web. The grant money is available for a limited time, so be sure to find out more about the Treasures of Connecticut Libraries project.
CT Library Community, Libraries and Technology, Statistics
CT Participation Low in Important National Survey
October 26th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

Connecticut public libraries who haven’t already completed this survey, please take note:

The 2010-2011 Public Library Funding & Technology Access survey conducted by the American Library Association and the Center for Library & Information Innovation at the University of Maryland closes November 7, 2010.

Funded by the American Library Association and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, the survey provides important data regarding public library Internet connectivity, use, funding, and services. Since 1994, these surveys have been used by the American Library Association and others to inform and educate policymakers, funders, elected officials, supporters, and the media at the local, state and national levels about the issues and needs your library faces in providing public computer and Internet access services and resources.

Your participation in the survey is extremely important, and directly impacts the ability of ALA and others to advocate on behalf of public libraries and the tremendous contribution public libraries make to their communities through their public access Internet services and resources.

The survey is open through November 7, 2010. To participate, go to
http://www.plinternetsurvey.org. You will need an ID number, which
you may look up on the website. Questions regarding the survey should
be directed to support@clii.umd.edu or 301.405.9445.
CT Library Community, Grants and Reimbursements, Statistics
Prize for Early Annual Report Submission
August 17th, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

I’m afraid the prize is just a grateful “THANK YOU” for public libraries who submit their annual report early. The deadline is not till November 15, but most libraries already have the statistics they need to complete the survey. For more information and a 15-minute online tutorial, go to the Annual Report and Application for State Aid page on WebJunction CT. Library Directors should already have received their user name and password by email. If not, please contact me.
CT Library Community, Statistics
Public Library State Report Information Available Soon
June 23rd, 2010 | Permalink | Comment?

I’m sure public libraries are just dying to find out what the new Annual Report and Application for State Aid survey is going to look like this year. For the really curious, and for those who might like to see what the new questions are before they begin running fiscal-year-ending reports, go to the Annual Report page and see what’s new. You can download a list of all the questions on the new survey, and you can even take a tutorial designed to help you complete it (with a free pen to all those who are still awake when the the tutorial ends). Feel free to leave a comment here if you have one, or if you have a question.
Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community
Town Budget Squeezes Library Service in Plainfield
June 10th, 2010 | Permalink | 2 Comments

The town of Plainfield passed a budget last week that eliminated town funding to the Plainfield Public and Central Village Libraries. It is likely that both of these libraries will close, leaving the Aldrich Library (the principal public library) to provide service for the entire town.

The budget cuts the town tax appropriation by 2/3 (the town contributed equally to all three libraries), leaving Plainfield (a town of 15,400 residents) with a town tax library appropriation of just $3.17 per person.

The total net operating income for the Aldrich Library in 2009 was $53,125.00 ($3.44 per capita). In comparison, the average total net operating income for Windham County public libraries is $28.00 per capita; the State wide average is $51.00 per capita.

Commenting on the reductions, First Selectman Paul Sweet stated “It’s just a very difficult time right now, and people are going to have to get used to this.” See Norwich Bulletin article.

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CT Library Community

CT Library Community, Statistics

Connecticut Public Libraries are #1 in New England

Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

Budget News

CT Library Community, Statistics

New Annual Report, New Questions

Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community, Statistics

Public Libraries Continue to Feel the Effects of the Recession

CT Library Community, Grants and Reimbursements, Library Development

West Hartford Public Library’s LSTA project: FAIR

CT Library Community, Web technology

Don’t Miss Out on the Treasures Project

CT Library Community, Libraries and Technology, Statistics

CT Participation Low in Important National Survey

CT Library Community, Grants and Reimbursements, Statistics

Prize for Early Annual Report Submission

CT Library Community, Statistics

Public Library State Report Information Available Soon

Breaking News from DLD, CT Library Community

Town Budget Squeezes Library Service in Plainfield