Original Question:  June 3, 2013

Tracy Cook (MT staff member) - forwarded by Colleen Hamer (MT)

A task force made up of Montana State Library staff and Montana librarians are looking at the public library statistics that we collect in Montana.  We know we need to stay within federal guidelines so we have a couple of questions for you.

1.  Some libraries have a subscription to Mango languages.  Is that a database?  If not what is it?  We also have a statewide subscription to Homework Montana which is an online tutoring service.  Is that a database?  Both of these are more like an online service so we aren't sure where they should be reported.

2.  We have a lot of school/public library combinations in Montana.

Should these libraries report the school's funding and collections with their public library statistics?  Some libraries are integrated and aren't sure if they should be trying to collect the school's contribution to the funding of the library.  On the one hand it is a part of the support the library receives, but on the other hand it makes it hard for them to compare themselves to public libraries of a similar size.

-Thanks for your help

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SDC Comments:

Michael Golrick (LA)

I am not sure I can answer #2 with any authority, without more meditation on the topic.

I will unequivocally state that in Louisiana we count both Mango and Tutor as databases, and therefore the use as database use. Mango was added to the statewide list in the past year, and before that it counted as a locally funded database. Tutor has been provided statewide for a number of years. (For us, the good news is that *we* keep the stats on the statewide databases!)

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Stacey Malek (TX)

Texas has Learning Express as part of our state databases now, so like Michael, we keep the stats on that.  Mango counted as database.

Texas has several public/school combos.  We tell these libraries to provide us only those stats that pertain to the "public" side of the library.  No, it's not always easy and I'm never sure it's being done correctly (of course, I could say that about most of the data we collect), but that's what we tell them to do.  The ISD can usually break out the financial part for them.

Hope that helps.

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Ann Reed (OR)

1. Im still debating on mango.  On tutoring, i'd go with how its mostly used.  IF the live help portion is the attraction, then how is it different than reference chat, which isn't a collection item, its a service.

2. The ultimate question for the pl stats is - what does it take to run a library for what outputs.  When public patrons come to use a school/public library, they can use the books and catalog, even if some of that is covered by the school.  And vice versa.  It makes no sense to deduct the cost of cash and in-kind school support because that is truly what it takes to offer library service.  And no, they aren't and never will be at all comparable to a public library.  They will always have visits and children's programs through the roof.   The best they can do is have your help and compare themselves to other school/public libraries.