Volume 13, March 30, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) LIBRARY SNAPSHOT DAY

2) FIRST TUESDAYS RAISES RELEVANCY

3) APPLY FOR PNLA LEADS

4) LIBRARY DEGREE PROGRAMS

5) CENSUS DATA WEBINAR SERIES

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Volume 13, January 19, 2017 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) WSL SERVICE CHANGES

2) FREE COMPUTERS – MIA LAB GRANTS

3) PRESERVATION GRANTS FOR SMALLER INSTITUTIONS

4) RECORDINGS AT RISK GRANTS

5) BEYOND GOOGLE – FINDING GOVERNMENT INFORMATION

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Two Washington libraries are in OverDrive’s 2013 Million Digital Checkouts Club. The King County Library System (KCLS) actually led the way with the most OverDrive digital checkouts of any library system worldwide! Seattle Public Library (SPL) was also in the club, at position number 6. OverDrive recently published the numbers (see below) on their blog.

OverDrive is a vendor which libraries frequently use to provide access to downloadable digital content, especially eBooks and eAudiobooks. Here are the 2013 members of OverDrive’s Million Digital Checkouts Club:

• King County Library System (WA): 1.6 million (25% increase over 2012)
• Toronto Public Library (ON): 1.5 million (68% increase over 2012)
• New York Public Library (NY): 1.2 million (16% increase over 2012)
• Hennepin County Library (MN): 1 million (41% increase over 2012)
• Cleveland Public Library (OH): 1 million (32% increase over 2012)
• Seattle Public Library (WA): 1 million (22% increase over 2012)

Last year, only two libraries broke the 1 million mark in digital circulation, but the number one both years was KCLS. We posted the top five for 2012 here on the blog last March. SPL was number 4 in 2012.

Here at the Washington State Library we also have the privilege of managing an OverDrive consortium for a group of smaller libraries, most of whom could not afford to offer this service to their patrons on their own. Going in together, these 39 libraries provide the Washington Anytime Library, also powered by OverDrive, and partially subsidized with federal LSTA (Library Services and Technology Act) funds administered by IMLS (The Institute for Museum and Library Services). The group calls itself the Washington Digital Library Consortium (WDLC).

The 39 WDLC libraries serve a combined population of 725,362 which is less than King County’s 1,362,870, but more than Seattle’s 616,500. But, the group has a way to go to make it into the same league as KCLS and SPL, at least in terms of digital checkouts. In 2013, the Washington Anytime Library had 380,000 checkouts, compared to 216,000 in 2012. Still, that’s a 76% annual increase, compared to the 22-25% increases shown by the larger systems. So look out big guys, the WDLC is on your tail!

Congratulations to all of these libraries for staying relevant by offering eBooks and eAudiobooks to their eager patrons, who love to read, whether in digital formats, or in traditional print. It will be fascinating to track how these numbers continue to increase in years to come!

OverDrive, one of the most popular public library eBook and eAudiobook vendors, recently announced its “Library eBook Leaders” for 2012. Two Washington libraries ranked in the top 5!

King County Library System (KCLS) was Number 1 in eBook and other digital title circulation, with Seattle Public Library (SPL) not far behind, in the Number 4 spot. Here’s a listing of the top 5, with the circ numbers:

1. King County Library System, Wash. (1.3 million checkouts)

2. New York Public Library (1.1 million checkouts)

3. Toronto Public Library (900,000 checkouts)

4. Seattle Public Library (850,000 checkouts)

5. Hennepin County Library, Minn. (750,000 checkouts)

Congratulations to KCLS & SPL for leading the North American continent in eBook circulation!

Volume 8, September 27, 2012 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) FIRST TUESDAYS – EREADERS: BEST PRACTICES

2) NEW DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT

3) 2011 WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATS ARE HERE – AND MORE!

4) 2012 ELPLP SYMPOSIUM: PUBLIC LIBRARIES & STEM

5) APPLY NOW FOR CARNEGIE-WHITNEY GRANTS

6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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1) FIRST TUESDAYS – EREADERS: BEST PRACTICES

Have questions about eReaders? Come to eReaders: Best practices, presented by Carolyn Petersen from the Washington State Library. Find out what happened when nineteen libraries in Washington, running the gamut from colleges to school libraries to public libraries both large and small, participated in an eReader services pilot project last year.

This free online webinar will take place on October 2, 2012, from 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT. For more information about First Tuesdays, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/tuesdays. To join the presentation, and for instructions, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/FirstTuesdays.

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2) NEW DOWNLOADABLE CONTENT

The “Off the Page: Downloadable Audiobooks and eBooks for Washington” project is pleased to announce the addition of significant new content to both vendor offerings.

Recent additions to the Recorded Books OneClickdigital audiobook collection include:

• Nine Modern Scholar titles (unlimited use), added to the 23 already available;
• Almost 350 Pimsleur Method language programs, with at least 1 copy of every available Pimsleur language course, including all of the various ESL courses, and up to 5 copies of popular languages;
• Over 350 single-use adult audiobook titles in all genres: both popular fiction and nonfiction, including romance, mystery, Sci Fi, suspense, history, business, self-help, etc.;
• Over 300 single-use children’s and young adult audiobook titles in similar genres: fiction, fantasy, mystery, biography, etc.

Recent additions to the Washington Anytime Library (powered by OverDrive) include:

• 1,945 single-use eBooks, of which 105 are added copies of existing titles;
• 627 single-use audiobooks, of which 28 are added copies.

For more information about the Off the Page project, visit www.sos.wa.gov/library/eaudiobooks or contact Will Stuivenga: [email protected] 360.704.5217.

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3) 2011 WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATS ARE HERE – AND MORE!

Need statistics on public libraries in the state of Washington? Interested in 2012 Salary and Benefits Data for libraries? Looking for a map of public library service in Washington? Find these, as well as historic data on Washington’s public libraries, by visiting www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/WAStats. For more information, contact Evelyn Lindberg, State Data Coordinator at [email protected].

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4) 2012 ELPLP SYMPOSIUM: PUBLIC LIBRARIES & STEM

Register now for the fourth annual symposium presented by the Early Learning Public Library Partnership (ELPLP). This year’s event features presentations from:

• Christine Roberts, Nurturing Pathways;
• Dr. Sarah Roseberry, Institute for Learning & Brain Science (I-LABS), University of Washington;
• Maile Hadley, Washington Science Technology Engineering & Math (STEM);
• Sally Chilson, Spokane Public Libraries.

Symposium information:

• When: Monday, October 15, 2012, 9:30 a.m. – 4:30 p.m.;
• Where: Seattle Public Library, Central Library, 1000 4^th Avenue, Seattle;
• Cost: Free;
• Registration required. To register for the Symposium, go to www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/ELPLP4.

For additional information, contact Susan Yang, Program Manager, at the Foundation for Early Learning at [email protected] or 260.525.4801, x28. Want to find out more about ELPLP? Visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/partners.

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5) APPLY NOW FOR CARNEGIE-WHITNEY GRANTS

Carnegie-Whitney Grants provide support for the preparation of popular or scholarly reading lists, webliographies, indexes, and other guides to library resources that can benefit users of all types of libraries in the United States. Grants of up to $5,000 are intended to cover the cost of preparation, including research, but not the costs of final printing or online distribution of the product. Grants are awarded to individuals, as well as libraries, library organizations, and programs of information and library studies/science. International applicants are also welcome to apply.

For more information and to apply, visit www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/CarnWhit. Applications are due no later than Friday, November 2, 2012.

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6) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

Monday, October 1:

• Celebrate With Shannon Hale Live! (School Library Journal); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Your Common Core Secret Weapon (TL Virtual Café); 5:00 – 6:00 p.m. PDT;

Tuesday, October 2:

• First Tuesdays: eReaders: Best practices (WSL); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT;
• How to Retouch Images Like a Pro (O’Reilly Community); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• What’s New in Series Nonfiction: Fall 2012 (Booklist); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT;
• Engaging Pro Bono and Skilled Volunteers (VolunteerMatch); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/skillvol;
• ProQuest Administrator Module (ProQuest); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ433;
• 5 Ways to Ratchet Up Your Fundraising Using LinkedIn (Nonprofit Webinars); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;

Wednesday, October 3:

• Introduction to the New ProQuest Platform (ProQuest); 9:00 – 9:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ434;
• Leading Disruptive Innovation and Change (AMA); 9:00 – 10:00 a.m. PDT;
• Nonprofit Boards and Effective Governance (Nonprofit Webinars); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• How to Train Non-Technical Learners in the Virtual Classroom (Training Magazine Network); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/NonTech;
• What’s New for Storytimes (Infopeople); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• Washington State Book Awards (Washington Center for the Book); Richard Hugo House, 1634 11^th Avenue, Seattle; 7:00 – 8:30 p.m. PDT;

Thursday, October 4:

• Advanced Searching: Beyond the Single Search Box (ProQuest); 8:00 – 8:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ435;
• All You Need to Know about E-reader services in Your Library (WSL); Timberland Regional Library Service Center, Tumwater, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PDT;
• Advanced Windows 7 Troubleshooting (O’Reilly Community); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT;
• Stories, eLearning and Mobility: A Triple Threat (Training Magazine Network); 10:00 – 11:00 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/triple;
• My Research (ProQuest); 11:00 – 11:45 a.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ436;
• Writing Accurate and Useful Volunteer Position Descriptions (VolunteerMatch); 11:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/VPD;
• Getting Boys to Read: Seeing Your Library Through a Guy’s Eyes (School Library Journal); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT;
• ProQuest Research Library/PQ Central K12 (ProQuest); 12:00 – 1:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ431;
• CultureGrams for MS/HS (ProQuest); 1:00 – 2:00 p.m. PDT: www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/PQ432;

Friday, October 5:

• Tech Tools With Tine: 1 Hour of Eventbrite (Texas State Library); 8:00 – 9:00 a.m. PDT;
• All You Need to Know about E-reader services in Your Library (WSL); Longview Public Library, Longview, 9:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m. PDT.

For more information and to register (for those not linked above), visit the WSL Training Calendar at www.sos.wa.gov/quicklinks/training.

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The Washington State Library has gone social! Friend/follow us at:

• Facebook: on.fb.me/FBWSL;
• Twitter: bit.ly/TwitWSL.

We're here to help

The prison and psychiatric hospital libraries were happy to participate in the Library Snapshot Day again this year.  With the libraries open an average of 4.75 hrs for the day there were 1,033 visitors across the state.  Check out the rest of the numbers here.   Also checkout the pictures on our Facebook Page.

Volume 6, September 23, 2010 for the WSL Updates mailing list

Topics include:

1) NEW DIGITAL COLLECTION – KIONA-BENTON CITY HERITAGE

2) 2009 WASHINGTON PUBLIC LIBRARY STATISTICAL REPORT

3) THERE’S STILL TIME TO TAKE THE SURVEY

4) SPARKS! IGNITION GRANTS

5) GREAT STORIES CLUB GRANTS FROM ALA

6) MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA GRANT PROGRAM

7) AMIGOS ANNOUNCES WESTERN RESOURCE SHARING AGREEMENT

8) FREE CE OPPORTUNITIES NEXT WEEK

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Ask-WA Statistics – December, 2009

December tends to be a slower month for Ask-WA, mainly because academic traffic drops off so sharply during the holiday breaks. In numbers:

• Email questions received: 3319
• Chat sessions requested: 3474
• Chat sessions accepted: 2883
• Qwidget requests (% of total): 791 (22.8%)

On a positive note, our answering percentage rose from its dangerously low 74% last month up to 83% in December, which is ideal. The best part is that this higher ratio is due to every cooperative maintaining a good ratio in December (as opposed to one group doing super-well and raising the rest up). Qwidget requests, as a percentage, rose from November to come back up to their average 20-25% level.

The word cloud highlights some of the most-used words left in survey comments throughout December. Some great words this month include: amazing, awesome, prompt, kind, helpful, useful, and wonderful.

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The American Library Association released on January 12th a new report detailing economic trends in US libraries and providing an outlook for 2010. Says ALA Executive Director Keith Michael Fiels: “This report was prepared to inform and assist library leaders as they plan in these very difficult times. It succinctly brings together diverse strands of data from the past decade to provide a useful benchmark for the library community and its advocates.”

There’s some great data in the report worth looking at, including some of the following snippets about public libraries:

• 25.4 million Americans reported using their public library more than 20 times in the last year, up from 20.3 million households in 2006.
• The average number of  in-person public  library visits rose to 12.7  in 2009 from 9.1 in 2006.
• Use  of  the  public  library  by  computer  (from  home,  work  or  school)  doubled from 2006 to 2009 (6 times per year, up from 2.9 times in 2006).
• 22% of Americans visited their public library by computer from home, office or school more often in the last 6 months. This percentage may seem low, but it is about 51 million Americans.

The report contains a lot of information about the economic situations of libraries in the past ten years, and uses graphs and charts to help display information in a meaningful way. You can download the full report (or library type-specific reports), and view the full press release, over at the ALA web site.

Ask-WA Statistics – November, 2009

Ask-WA slowed down a bit in November compared to October, but since we were super-extra busy in October, that isn’t saying too much. November numbers were still well ahead of September, August, and July numbers, especially in terms of chat sessions requested. In numbers:

• Email questions received: 3743
• Chat sessions requested: 4912
• Chat sessions accepted: 3645
• Qwidget requests (% of total): 965 (19.6%)

As a cooperative we maintained an answering percentage of 74% for the month, which is down significantly from previous months, and falls just below our goal percentage of 75%. This is due to some drag in the public cooperative, but I’m sure we can dust ourselves off and bring the numbers back up! Chat continues to dominate email, though both services remain well-used. Qwidget traffic dropped this month to just under 20%, down from a fairly consistent 25% in previous months.

The word cloud highlights some of the most-used words left in survey comments throughout November. Some great words this month include: wonderful, excellent, fast, quick, great, impressed, and love.

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