Keeping Score

The moment you've been waiting for all year has arrived! We've updated our Facts & Statistics page with the numbers from the most recent fiscal year ending on June 30, 2011.

Some highlights:

Over half-a-million visitors to Main Library, with almost a million visitors among the three branches

726,408 items checked out!

About 20,000 people attended our programs

173,592 used our public computers, and that doesn't count the popular wireless access

83,397 folks have a Santa Fe Public Library card

Our website had 304,343 hits and 84,573 visitors

Icarus had 21,538 hits and 15,994 visitors

Are you dying to know more? Check out the Facts & Statistics page today!

Where's the Data?

With all apologies to New Mexico Magazine's popular feature, One of Our Fifty is Missing, a reference librarian at Main noticed a glaring omission in the latest US Census data:



Our feelings should probably be hurt, but first we need to stop laughing.

More Numbers for You

Each year, Santa Fe Public Library staffers have to crunch numbers and analyze services to answer a plethora of surveys. Some of these surveys are for the State of New Mexico, some for non-profits like the American Library Association, and others are for various federal agencies. Since these annual surveys can sometimes feel like a Sisyphean task, it's always nice to see some results come out of them.

The following facts were sent out as talking points for this year's Library Legislative Day. While 2011's day has passed, it's good to keep in mind year-round how helpful public libraries are for a variety of tasks for everyone in the community. Locally, the Santa Fe Public Library answered YES to all the following questions this year:

85.0% of New Mexico's public libraries help people access and use employment resources, including helping with job searches, creating resumes and submitting employment applications.

95.9% of New Mexico's public libraries offer IT and other technical training, helping people gain essential technology skills for the 21st Century workforce.

91.8% of New Mexico's public libraries act as the bridge between government and its services, offering free access and assistance to help people complete online government forms.

54.3% of New Mexico's public libraries are often the only free source of Internet access in their communities, providing a vital link to technology and information.

Data: The Public Library Funding & Technology Access Study survey is managed by the Center for Library & Information Innovation at the University of Maryland and funded by the American Library Association and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. More information about libraries & the Internet is available at http://www.plinternetsurvey.org/. 2009-2010 & 2010-2011 data presented.

Yay for Statistics!

OK, I admit it, I love statistics. I love it in the same way I love ballet: I love seeing the product of all that hard work and training, but could never attempt it myself. I got to meet a statistician once, and when I started gushing about what an awesome job she must have, the befuddled woman replied, "Wow, no one's reacted that way before." It's not that I curl up with The basic practice of statistics after a day's work, but the procession of numbers can still be fascinating.

The motherlode of facts and statistics in the US is getting rolled out right now. That's right, the results of the 2010 Census are finding their way across the web. Just a few to try on: Between 2000 and 2010, the population of the City of Santa Fe increased from 62,203 to 67, 947. That's almost six thousand people! The County also saw a jump, from 134,525 to 144,170. New Mexico finally crossed the 2 million mark, hitting 2,059,170 residents on April 1, 2010, up from a count of 1,829,146 in 2000. But don't take my word for it: check out the American FactFinder site for all the statistics and numbers and charts that you could hope for.

If you're not a statistics fan but still have a bit of interest, go to Worldometers. They have real-time numbers for everything from world population to food, water, and energy. As of this writing, the world population is inching towards the seven billion mark; 342,828 new book tiles have been published this year; almost 17,000 people have died of hunger today. An interesting, if somewhat jarring, snapshot of the world we live in.

Interested in statistics closer to home? The Library has a Facts and Statistics page that we update annually, and we hang onto the historical data so you can get a glimpse of our popularity and growth. Enjoy the numbers!

Empty and Antiquated?

With the interesting economic climate and the crunch felt by government budgets at all levels and in several countries, libraries and their funding are once again a hot topic of discussion. While some folks regard public libraries as empty buildings offering antiquated services, the numbers since the Great Recession and before tell a different story.

The Institute of Museum and Library Services issued a report in June, 2010, whose first sentence is:
"Public library visits and circulations per capita increased almost 20 percent between FY1999 and FY2008, while the number of public librarians per 25,000 people has remained virtually the same during that same period..."

For those of us who learn visually, here's a neat graph explaining that sentence:



One Day in the Life of New Mexico Libraries, also known as Library Snapshot Day, provides this same conclusion from a different perspective. For example, on April 14, 2010, "23,159 people visited New Mexico libraries", while only "15,573 people passengers departed from the Albuquerque International Sunport."

Another picture for you:


OCLC, a non-profit that serves libraries, also compiled information in their report How Libraries Stack Up: 2010.

Some facts from their report:
"Every day, 300,000 Americans get job-seeking help at their public library."
"Every year, Americans visit the library more often than we go to the movies and six times more often than we attend live sporting events (includes professional and NCAA football, baseball, basketball and hockey)."
"Most public libraries provide free wireless Internet access for their users. Nearly 12,000 now offer free Wi-Fi. That’s more than Starbucks, Barnes & Noble or Borders."

And once again, a pretty graph:



Could public libraries overall do a better job at serving their populations? Of course they could, but it is honestly something we strive to do every day. No matter what your age, think about how libraries "used to be", and then compare them to today's libraries with its online catalog, downloadable audiobooks, new and popular items in all formats, and online resources such as language learning, car repair, and test prep. The one constant in libraries is the human equation: helpful and friendly staff who are able and willing to go beyond Google and Wikipedia to get you what you need.

If you'd like to read these short, well-written, and beautifully illustrated reports yourself, check these links:

Institute of Museum and Library Services Report

One Day in the Life of New Mexico Libraries

How Libraries Stack Up: 2010

To see how the Santa Fe Public Library stacks up, check out our Facts & Statistics pages.

Census Information

The 2010 Census has started! As of April 12, it has a 66% National participation rate. New Mexico has a 57% rate, and Santa Fe County has a 59% rate.

If you haven't received a form, you can find the nearest location to pick one up at the Census Bureau's Find Locations page. Just type in your ZIP Code and receive a listing of nearby centers.

If you have questions about the Census and forms, you can call the toll-free number: 866-872-6868.

Also, check out the 2010 Census Page. There's a wealth of interesting information on there, which should only increase as more forms are turned in.

We Make an IMPACT

Last spring, we asked you to participate in the IMPACT study. This first-ever nationwide survey examined “how people use the free computers and Internet connections in public libraries”. Well, now the results are in, and it looks like more people are relying on public library computers than anyone could have guessed.

Some highlights from the study:

• One third of Americans, about 77 million people, use public library computers
• Patrons living below the poverty line had the highest rate of library computer use at 44%
• One in four Americans use a public library computer while traveling
• One quarter of teens used their library at least once a week
• 80% of users made a change in their diet after using the library computers
• Two out of three patrons using library computers are helping out friends or family

The Huffington Post has a summary about the study, or you can read the full report Opportunity for All: How the American Public Benefits from Internet Access at U.S. Libraries in HTML or PDF - 212 pages. Minnesota Public Radio has also published a commentary that brings life to these statistics.

Thanks to all our patrons who participated!

The Census is Coming!

Has a decade passed already? Some of us have received mailings from the Census Bureau telling us that we'll be receiving forms for the 2010 Census shortly. While it seems like a decennial census might be old-fashioned in this high-tech age, as information providers we can tell you that the census data is indispensible to answering your questions. Also, having accurate data can help underserved (aka poor) communities receive vital funding for health, education, housing, and other services. If the plea of a librarian isn't enough, read Senator Tom Udall's census message.

So please, make sure you participate in this year's census, and send your form in. However, be aware of the following from the Better Business Bureau:

"Be cooperative but cautious about giving information to anyone who might contact you at your door, by telephone, or by email, claiming to be a Census worker.

With the U.S. Census process beginning, the Better Business Bureau (BBB) advises people to be cooperative, but cautious, so as not to become a victim of fraud or identity theft. The first phase of the 2010 U.S. Census is under way as workers have begun verifying the addresses of households across the country. Eventually, more than 140,000 U.S. Census workers will count every person in the United States and will gather information about every person living at each address including name, age, gender, race, and other relevant data.

The big question is - how do you tell the difference between a U.S. Census worker and a con artist? BBB offers the following advice: If a U.S. Census worker knocks on your door, they will have a badge, a handheld device, a Census Bureau canvas bag, and a confidentiality notice. Ask to see their identification and their badge before answering their questions. However, you should never invite anyone you don't know into your home.

Census workers are currently only knocking on doors to verify address information. Do not give your Social Security number, credit card, or banking information to anyone, even if they claim they need it for the U.S. Census. Remember, no matter what they ask, you really only need to tell them how many people live at your address.

While the Census Bureau might ask for basic financial information, such as a salary range, you don't have to answer anything at all about your financial situation. The Census Bureau will not ask for Social Security, bank account, or credit card numbers, nor will employees solicit donations. Any one asking for that information is NOT with the Census Bureau.

Also, the Census Bureau has decided not to work with ACORN on gathering Census information. No ACORN worker should approach you saying he/she is with the Census Bureau.

Eventually, Census workers may contact you by telephone, mail, or in person at home. However, the Census Bureau will not contact you by email, so be on the lookout for email scams impersonating the Census. Never click on a link or open any attachments in an email that are supposedly from the U.S. Census Bureau."

No wonder why we're tired, Part 2

As we pointed out in a post last month, we've been very busy here at the Santa Fe Public Library. According to a new graphic released by the New Mexico State Library, this doing more (circulation and programming) with less (money and staff) is a statewide library epidemic.

The following graph illustrates the percent change from 2008 to 2009. It'll be interesting to see how this Needs vs. Resources plays out in 2010. If January is any indication, the gap may be even wider.


Now if you'll excuse me, I need to get some more coffee.

El Agua es La Vida

In the desert Southwest, there's a lot of talk and concern about water, mostly in terms of supply and conservation. However, water quality is as important as quantity, especially in terms of personal health.

The Environmental Working Group has developed a Drinking Water Database with information about tap water quality for different locations. They also have a handy PDF printout for safe drinking water as well as a guide for buying water filters. One drawback is that this advocacy group relies on reporting from government agencies for its data. For example, the analysis for the City of Santa Fe's water supply is from testing done in 2004-2006. This is the data the New York Times used in a profile last month, and also what the Santa Fe Reporter posted on its blog.

However, the City of Santa Fe has water quality data from 2008 (PDF). They post annual reports, so it's safe to assume that we'll be getting the 2009 data shortly as well. The annual reports include a table that isn't as detailed as the high-profile older one, but the more recent data is heartening. Arsenic levels, for example, were under the legal limit in 2008, which is an improvement from the 2004-2006 data. The USGS also posts up-to-date water quality data for all of New Mexico. Real-time data is available from sites in the Rio Grande and Pecos River basins.

If you'd like to educate yourself more about the myriad issues surrounding water quality and quantity, we have plenty of books for all ages, especially in the Environmental Education Resource Center. We also have links to various Drought & Water websites that should help answer any questions you have.

No Wonder Why We're Tired

Tired, yet happy!

We've updated the Library Facts and Statistics page with the past fiscal year's details. Library visits have gone up almost 7% over the past year.

Some more fun facts:

• Our borrowers (that's you with a library card!) increased 8.22%
• Library visits increased almost 7%
• Our circulation—books and other items checked out—increased 21.12%.
• Almost 24% of those items were Children's.
• Young Adult circulation increased by 43%.
• Self-check out increased by almost 55%
• 28% more holds were filled
• 499 Programs were just for Children, almost 10% more than last year
• 15,126 Children attended library programs, for a 12.17% increase
• Adult Program attendance increased by 60%
• Reference questions increased by almost 7% (Who says the Internet will replace librarians?)

Interestingly, use of our public PCs decreased by about 4%. Even though it seems as if our computers are always in use, we believe that the Wifi at every branch has freed up the PCs a bit. We're still waiting on those statistics.

Still curious about us? Be sure to check our Library Facts and Statistics page for every number you can dream of.