Public Library and First Nation Public Library Technology Needs in next two years from 2017 |
Public Library and First Nation Public Library Technology Needs in next two years from 2017 Annual Survey |
2017 Ontario Public Library Statistics Special Textual Data Reports
Technology projects in the next two years, reported in the 2017 Annual Survey
Significant Achievements reported in the 2017 Annual Survey of Public Libraries / 2017 Ontario Public Library Statistics |
Significant Achievements reported in 2017 Ontario Public Library Statistics – text field Aug 2018
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements and Policies where there are no Non-Resident User Fees |
Reciprocal Borrowing Agreements from 2017 Annual Survey, Aug 2018 report
Non-traditional circulating library collections |
https://fopl.ca/news/non-
Capital projects in the next two years, reported in 2017 Annual Survey Aug 2018 |
TPL and six other public libraries ares pleased to share with you the results of a two year study to assess the impact of technology services offered in Ontario libraries: Bridge Report
Valuing Northern Libraries Toolkit
http://home.olsn.ca/resources/
Click here to view the “Valuing Northern Libraries Tool Kit”
“Is your library board looking for a new way to communicate library value to your stakeholders?
Ontario Library Service – North (OLS – North) contracted NORDIK Institute to create a measurement tool to illustrate the value of libraries in rural, Northern, First Nation, and francophone communities. A steering committee consisting of the CEOs of the six pilot communities participated in identifying the measurement topics, the design and testing of the tool.
The Toolkit and Resources
This tool is designed to measure the value of public libraries and their role as community hubs, building capacity for healthy, resilient people and places, especially in rural, Northern, First Nation and francophone communities. The toolkit provides a step-by-step process to assess libraries’ social return on investment (SROI) within a holistic, cross-sectoral framework. The Social Return on Investment (SROI) is a term describing the social impact of a business or non-profit’s operations in dollar terms, relative to the investment required to create that impact and exclusive of its financial return to investors.
Based on a review of relevant literature, focus groups, consultation with steering committee members and site visits, NORDIK designed a measurement toolkit to encompass the many diverse and unique roles that public libraries play in the North as community hubs.
This framework identifies seven areas where libraries contribute to building individual, organizational, and community level capacity.
- Cultural Integrity & Regional Identity
- Social Inclusion
- Cognitive & Literacy Development
- Health & Wellness
- Engaged Citizens & Safer Communities
- Entertainment & Enjoyment
- Economic Development
An indicator is a quantifiable measure used to monitor progress or impact in a given area or sector. In collaboration with the pilot sites, three indicators were chosen that best reflect how libraries’ operations and expenditures contribute to each respective area. The same number of indicators is measured in each of the seven sectors for the purpose of demonstrating the equivalent value of each sector in the overall economic benefit and calculation of its Social Return on Investment.
While many of the services and activities of the libraries could arguably demonstrate benefits in multiple sectors assessed by the measurement tool, this study has relied on the preferences of the pilot sites to identify the placement of indicators most appropriate to each of the seven sectors. The indicators have been selected based on data that is collected by all libraries, or alternatively, can be easily collected during the ‘typical week’ usage survey.
Each library builds a unique mix of resources—collections, programming, services, etc. in response to community needs, enabling diverse people to improve their quality of life and to participate in the life of the community in meaningful ways. In many instances, libraries demonstrate leadership by promoting services that are otherwise non-existent, under developed or under serviced. The library value toolkit can be used in all of Ontario’s small and rural communities to demonstrate how the library contributes to individual, organizational, and community capacity.
SROI Indicator Template (the library value calculation spreadsheet)
The SROI Indicator Template will require some of the data submitted for the 2017 Annual Survey of Public Libraries, the Typical Week Survey, plus other commonly collected information.
Download the template and sample reports:
- The SROI Indicator Template
- Community Report Template
- Sample Community Report
- Sample Completed Indicator Template
Training Resources
COMING SOON – The Valuing Northern Libraries Toolkit online course will be made available on LearnHQ for Ontario public libraries to access.
Other Library Value Projects
Here is a sampling of public library value projects conducted in the past decade:
Assessing the ECONOMIC IMPACT of Vancouver Island Regional Library on our Member Communities, 2016.
Building Burlington’s Prosperity: The Economic Impact of Burlington Public Library, 2015.
Ottawa Public Library Impact Report. 2015.
SSM Public Library Research Report: The Value of Sault Ste. Marie’s Public Library 2015
Kawartha Lakes Public Library Economic Impact Study 2014
So Much More: The Economic Impact of the Toronto Public Library on the City of Toronto 2014
Halifax Central Library An Economic Impact Assessment 2009
Enriching communities: The value of public libraries in NSW 2008
For a full list of the economic impact studies we’ve done in Ontario, check them out here:
The List: Canadian Public Library Impact Studies
https://fopl.ca/news/the-list-
We offer customer reports of peer analyses that match an individual library’s needs. That is summarized in the main report.
Lastly, we also compare ourselves on a national, US and international basis when data is available. Ontario libraries tend to come out very very well.
In the US you have a few great data sets and projects including IMLS, NCES, PLA, Project Outcomes, (ARL, and ACRL data) and you use our Canadian company Counting Opinions well across the country.