November 10, 2015

Question

Amanda Johnson (NC)

In NC we have a question about technology lending that reads:

I have a library that is counting technology that is used as part of programming and I’m unsure if that should count. It is the patrons using the technology not staff, and per the definition in-house use can be counted but this still seems to be a bit of a grey area.  Do any other states have a similar question or do you track technology that is used during programming?

SDC Comments

Bob Wetherall (DE)

Amanda,

I am not familiar with Data Element 146 (Technology Lending Circulation).  I don't see it in the IMLS definitions for the PLS.  What am I doing wrong?

Sam Shaw (NE)

Robert:

You are correct that there is no technology lending circ. national element. Amanda can verify but it sounds like the 146 she is referring to is something they collect at the state level.

Now for Amanda’s original question. No, we don’t have a similar question, we just collect the total circulation of non-electronic items. This would include only technology that is checked out and leaves the library and (using Amanda’s definition below) things like garden tools that also leave the library. The federal element for this is 550 (total circulation). See below.

Seems to me that if the technology is just checked out for in-library use, that wouldn’t count or meet the definition of a program; but some of it might be countable under 650/651/642 (Number of internet computers used by the GP/Number of uses (sessions) of public internet computers per year/Wireless sessions) depending on the situation.