All Libraries
ELI: Every Library in Illinois
http://eli.sls.lib.il.us
In it's infancy, this web interface provided by the Secretary of State and Illinois State Library supplies access to directory and statistical information on Illinois libraries. Check often as ELI will be updated frequently.
U.S. Census Bureau
http://www.census.gov
Demographic information from Census 2000 is available here. American FactFinder is especially useful, as are detailed tables.
ALA Office for Research Statistics
http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/researchstatistics.htm
Click on 'reports' to find the latest survey information and findings. Click on 'statistics' to find just that.
National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/getpubcats.asp?sid=041
Both of these sections of the National Center for Education Statistics Websites are valuable to libraries of all types.
Library Research Service, Colorado Department of Education
http://www.lrs.org
This site has a wealth of information for libraries of all types. Explore the entire site! The planning resources at the bottom of the page under tools might be of particular interest, as might the Counting on Results project.
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Academic Libraries
NCES - Academic Library Peer Comparison Tool
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/compare/index.asp?LibraryType=Academic
This tool allows the user to request information on a particular library, or to customize a peer group by selecting the key variables that are used to define it. The user can then view customized reports of the comparison between the library of interest and its peers, on a variety of variables as selected by the user. Since 1988, the Academic Library Survey has been a component of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) and is collected on a two-year cycle. The survey collects data on the libraries in the entire universe of accredited institutions of higher education and on the libraries in non-accredited institutions with a program of four years or more.
NCES - Academic Libraries: 1998
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/pubsinfo.asp?pubid=2001341
This is the summary report, by state, from the 1998 IPEDS Academic Library Survey.
Association of College and Research Libraries
http:www.ala.org/acrl/stashp.html
Includes statistical summaries from over 1,300 institutions. A members-only section allows access to the complete data set.
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Public Libraries
Illinois Public Library Statistics
http://lrc.lis.uiuc.edu/web/IPLS.html
Access statistical summaries and data about the public libraries in Illinois since Fiscal Year 1995 - 1996. Data is gathered from the Illinois Public Library Annual Report (IPLAR).
NCES - Public Library Comparison Tool
http://nces.ed.gov/surveys/libraries/compare/index.asp?LibraryType=Public
This tool allows the user to request information on a particular library, or to customize a peer group by selecting the key variables that are used to define it. The user can then view customized reports of the comparison between the library of interest and its peers, on a variety of variables as selected by the user. Not everything that is collected on IPLAR is reported here, however many data items are. Also, while the data is dated, the NCES is working very hard on getting the most current figures on their site.
Urban Libraries Council
http://www.urbanlibraries.org
Click on their research page to find Fast Facts Surveys, Public Libraries as Partners in Youth Development, Impact of Internet on Public Library Use, and more.
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School Libraries
Illinois State Board of Education
http://wwww.isbe.state.il.us
Click on 'Illinois School Facts' to discover a wealth of interesting information from statewide analysis to individual school report cards. Of special interest might be The 2000 Educator Supply and Demand Report which includes information on media specialists in Illinois schoold (try a 'find' search using the term media to locate the references to such).
Common Core of Data (CCD)
http://nces.ed.gov/ccd/
A program of the U.S Department of Education's National Center for Education Statistics, is a comprehensive, annual, national statistical database of information concerning all public elementary and secondary schools (approximately 91,000) and school districts (approximately 16,000).
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Special Libraries
Special Libraries Association
http://www.sla.org/
While salary survey information is available to all, access to in-depth research surveys and projects are for members-only.
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Journals
American Libraries
The monthly journal can be of tremendous use.
Library Journal
This bi-monthly journal has plenty of information to seek out.
School Library Journal
A wealth of information is at your fingertips with this monthly periodical. Each March issue includes SLJ's Average Book Prices. Their website is quite useful too! www://www.slj.com
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Published Reports
National Center for Education Statistics
http://nces.ed.gov/pubsearch/index.asp
Many reports for all types of libraries are available.
Public Library Data Service Statistical Reports
http://www.ala.org/ala/pla/plapubs/pldsstatreport/pldsstatistical.cfm
This annual publication is available from the Public Library Association. The "Statistical Report 2006" (ISBN 0-8389-8367-7) is available from the Public Library Association, 50 East Huron St., Chicago, Il 60611, telephone 1-800-545-2433, ext.5PLA. Price is $100 with discounts for ALA and PLA members.
ALA Survey of Librarian Salaries
http://www.ala.org/ala/ors/reports/06PurchaseInfo.htm
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In-House Collection Tools
Bertot, John Carlo, McClure, Charles R., and Ryan, Joe. 2001. Statistics and Performance Measures for Public Library Networked Services. Chicago: American Library Association.
Nelson, Sandra, Altman, Ellen, and Mayo, Diane. 2000. Managing for Results: Effective resource allocation for public libraries. Chicago: American Library Association.
Nelson, Sandra. 2001. The New Plannig for Results: A streamlined approach. Chicago: American Library Association.
Van House, Nancy A., Lynch, Mary Jo, McClure, Charles R., Zweizig, Douglas l., and Rodger, Eleanor Jo. 1987. Output Measures for Public Libraries: A manual of standardized procedures. 2nd ed. Chicago: American Library Association.
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