Indiana public library statistics are compiled annually from the Public Library Annual Statistical Report Forms sent from the Indiana State Library to each of Indiana's 239 public library districts. The data provide an overview of Indiana's public libraries' finances, holdings, services, and employees. Locally, each public library can use the data with their library board and community to follow trends in local service to request increased funding or show the need for expansion of the library or services, and to compare their services and programs with similar size libraries in the state. The data are used by the State Library for evaluating statewide planning and programs, and in determining library funding and grant recipients. Also, the Indiana State Library is required to submit an annual report to the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES) for the Federal State Cooperative System (FSCS). A report from NCES, ranking all the states, is then published each year in paper and electronic formats.
While all 239 public libraries returned their annual report form, not all items on each form were always filled out. If there is a blank in the data files, the number was not reported and/or not collected by the reporting library. The number of Resident Registered Borrowers may exceed the population of the library service area if the library had not recently reviewed their borrower registrations. Also the library service area may have grown in population significantly. Currently, the population of the library service areas are based on data from the 1990 Census. Sugar Creek Township Public Library is a newly formed district, without a building, staff or budget, and is only included in the general information section
This is the fourth year for the Indiana State Library to provide public library statistics through our World Wide Web site. We will continue to provide access through the Internet to data that we collect throughout the year from all types of libraries. The 1997 Statistics of Indiana Public Libraries publication will be available in July 1997, but more data items are available through the WWW than will be in print. However, if you would like a copy of the 1997 Statistics of Indiana Public Libraries or the 1997 Public Library Directory, or if you have any questions about the data, please contact the: