2024 Data Collection Underway

The annual Library Insights Survey (LIS) is now open for ULC members. We are seeking information from member libraries on their budgets, staffing, operations, visitors and programs to help strengthen and advance the essential role of public libraries in our cities. Continue reading for important details about this project.

Click here to complete the 2024 Library Insights Survey.

Information Requested

ULC is seeking quantitative and qualitative data from members across four categories:

• Attraction and Attendance
• Location Experience and Use of Space
• Programs and Services
• Staffing and Budget

The survey looks to collect information for the 2023 calendar year and budgetary information for the 2023 fiscal year. Respondents who did not participate in the inaugural survey last year can also submit 2019 and 2022 historical data.

Based on member feedback, we are adding some new questions to the 2024 LIS, including:

• Your library service area (LSA) population.
• The average wait time for e-books and audiobooks.
• The age group / audience that most of your library programming is designed to reach.
• Your building maintenance budget and cost per square foot for new construction or renovations.
• Information about your library’s primary fundraising source (e.g. foundation or friends of the library).

Click here to preview the data variables ULC is collecting in this survey.

Completing the LIS

Participation in the 2024 Library Insights Survey is voluntary and only open to member libraries of the Urban Libraries Council. Libraries should fully respond to questions in each of the four survey categories to the best of their ability by July 3, 2024. Survey responses can be saved and completed in sections by the deadline.

This data will allow ULC and its member community to make informed decisions concerning how libraries are strengthening their operations and purposefully serving their communities since the pandemic.

Library system data will populate interactive online dashboards, maps and charts available to all ULC members. Aggregate data and findings will be published in a public report in Fall 2024. By responding to the survey, you are agreeing to make your library data available in a bulk data format to researchers unless otherwise communicated to ULC.

For questions about the LIS, please contact Femi Adelakun, Director of Research and Data, at fadelakun@urbanlibraries.org.