Statistics
The Library makes efforts throughout the fiscal year to gather feedback on its services and resources and how patrons use them. Quantifiable resources (e.g. size of the Library’s collection; registration of new patrons; number of visitors) and surveys of patrons’
experiences (e.g. reference, satisfaction and in-library use surveys) help document trends in patron use. Findings from counts and surveys are incorporated into decision-making about service provision and resource allocation; they are reported as well to the Controller of the
City and County of San Francisco, the State Library of California and the Public Library Association.
Statistics are provided on this site for the most recently completed fiscal year, as soon as they are available for posting. The Library’s fiscal year runs from July 1 through June 30.
Counts
Data collected from the Chief of Branches, Chief of Main, Exhibitions & Programs and Information Technology departments provide a snapshot of library activity over the course of a fiscal year. The numbers are most informative when compared with counts from previous years;
they tell part of the story of how SFPL services and resources are being used.
- Collection size (PDF) – how many books, magazines, newspapers, CDs, VHS tapes, DVDs, phonograph records, etc. are owned by SFPL
- Circulation (PDF) – how many of these items were checked out
- Registration (PDF) – how many children, teens, adults and seniors signed up for library cards
- Visits (PDF) – how many people came into SFPL buildings
- Events (PDF) – how many author readings, lectures, classes, films & videos, performances, reading groups, storytimes & lapsits and other presentations were held
- Attendees (PDF) – how many people attended Library events
Surveys
In March of each year, Main and Branch Library administration set a calendar of survey dates for the following fiscal year. Surveys are administered by floor and branch managers and collected by the Chief of Main (COM) and Chief of Branches (COB).
Unless indicated otherwise, COM and COB compile and tabulate the data.
The annual calendar of surveys and counts is found at http://sfpl.org/librarylocations/administration/pdf/2008_09survey_calendar.pdf..
- The Reference Survey (PDF) is conducted twice during each fiscal year, typically once in September for a week and again in March for a week. Staff are asked to count the number of times
patrons ask reference questions (e.g. “How do I find a book in your online catalog?,” “Do you own this magazine?,” “What does MISSING in your catalog mean?,” “I’m researching the birds of California. Can you help me find information?”) and directional questions
(“Where is the bathroom?,” “Do you have a pencil?,” “How do I use the copier?,” “What time do you close?”). From numbers gathered during these two weeks the Library extrapolates the number of times these types of questions are asked over the course of an entire year.
- The In-Library Use Survey (PDF) is administered annually, typically in October. During the week this survey is conducted, staff are asked to count the number of library items that patrons used within the buildings. This requires staff to
post signs stating “Library survey in progress; please do not re-shelve material” and then gather and count the books, magazines and newspapers that were left on tables, chairs, counters and in restrooms throughout the building. From numbers gathered during this week the Library extrapolates the number of items
used within the library over the course of an entire year.
- The Library Satisfaction Survey is administered throughout the year. This electronic survey provides an opportunity for patrons to rate at any time their experiences with the Library’s resources and services.
- Return to Statistics homepage
- Jump to Main Library Statistics
- Jump to Branch Libraries Statistics
- Jump to System-wide Statistics
|
