IMLS Public Library Survey

The Public Libraries Survey (PLS) is an annual survey of all public libraries in the United States, conducted by the Institute for Museum and Libraries Services (IMLS). Data are collected from approximately 9,000 public libraries with approximately 17,000 individual public library outlets (main libraries, branches, and bookmobiles) in the 50 states, the District of Columbia, and outlying territories. At the state level, the PLS is administered by Data Coordinators, appointed by the chief officer of the state library agency from each state or outlying area. State Data Coordinators collect the requested data from local public libraries and report these data via a web-based reporting system.<br><br>Data includes information about library visits, circulation, size of collections, public service hours, staffing, electronic resources, operating revenues and expenditures, and number of service outlets. Addresses and other location information for each library are provided, and latitude and longitude coordinates are included in later years. Each record represents either a public library system or a library outlet (i.e an individual library location that is part of a system) in separate tables. The data has been published in a variety of formats over the years, including: CSV, SAS, and SPSS. Documentation, codebooks, and summary and special reports are provided in PDF format.<br><br>The data is organized in three folders:<br><br>- Fiscal years 1989 to 1991: data is provided in summary reports, with no machine readable files<br>- Fiscal years 1992 to 2005: survey was conducted by the National Center for Education Statistics<br>- Fiscal years 2006 to present: survey was conducted by IMLS, data segmented in subfolders by fiscal year<br><br>***Microdata: Yes Level of Analysis: State; Individuals - Libraries Variables Present: Yes File Layout: .csv; .sas7bdat; .spss; .sasCodebook: Partial (FY 2000) Methods: Yes Weights (with appropriate documentation): No Publications: No Aggregate Data: Yes<br>