The 2025 ULC Library Insights Survey is Now Open
The Library Insights Survey will close on August 7, 2025.
LIS Data Collection Worksheet
Want to know the LIS prompts or need to organize your data before you get started? Explore the Data Collection Worksheet before you complete the full survey.
2025 Library Insights Info Sheet
Now more than ever, it is important for all of ULC's member libraries to take part in the Library Insights Survey. Feel free to share this Information Sheet with your team for more details.
What is the Library Insights Survey?
The Library Insights Survey (LIS) is the most robust and comprehensive dataset available today on how urban public libraries are used. Now in its third year, the LIS gathers key quantitative and qualitative data from ULC member libraries across four core categories:
- Attraction and Attendance
- Location Experience and Use of Space
- Programs and Services
- Staffing and Budget
By participating, your library not only gains valuable insights to support operational decisions and strategic planning—you also help shape a powerful, collective narrative about the health, growth, and impact of urban libraries across North America.
Why Your Participation Matters
Strength in Numbers
The more libraries that participate—across sizes, geographies, and resource levels—the stronger and more representative the data becomes. Together, we can tell a compelling national story about the evolving role of public libraries.
Peer Comparison and Performance Evaluation
The LIS allows you to benchmark against libraries of similar size and scope. Understand how your patrons are using your spaces, programs, and services, and identify opportunities to evolve in response to community needs.
Informing Federal Advocacy
ULC uses LIS data to power our advocacy on Capitol Hill, equipping lawmakers with real-world evidence of libraries’ essential value. In a time of uncertainty around IMLS’ Public Library Survey and national data sources, LIS provides an urgent and timely alternative.
Media and Messaging Value
LIS findings are used in national media coverage to shift the public narrative around the state of libraries. This is the kind of informed storytelling our sector needs.
The LIS helps public libraries like our own have easily accessible data to drive decision-making. Without these types of tools, libraries would be spending their own staff time and resources that are too often in short supply
Colin Khem, Business Analytics Manager, Prince George's County Memorial Library System
What You'll Gain
Once the survey data is analyzed, participating libraries will gain access to interactive dashboards in ULC’s newly revamped Data Hive, where you can visualize and explore your data alongside that of your peers.
ULC will also publish an accompanying Library Insights Report, which will break down the trends of this year's data and offer recommendations. See the 2024 Library Insights Report below.
Dig Into the Data
View the 2024 Library Insights Report
These data snapshots and more are analyzed in the 2024 Library Insights Report. Access information and data visualizations of emerging trends that capture current patron engagement with library programs, access to services and the building space itself.
2024 Library Insights Survey Highlights
Looking for an overview of the report's key takeaways? Access the 2024 LIS Background and Highlights document for easy viewing.
Access ULC’s Library Data Hive
Available to ULC Members Only
The 2024 survey data is compiled and featured in the ULC Library Data Hive. The ULC Data Hive displays the data collected from each annual Library Insights Survey—as well as publicly available demographic information—in interactive dashboards, charts and maps.