Look at the IMLS data site data categories. Determine the categories you’ll use for comparison. You’ll see nine categories of data. Use the six categories, and skip the (1) Electronic Technology, (2) Programs and (3) Program Attendance categories.

DISCUSSION ESSAY

Reading: Sannwald, pp. 64-66 (attached below) and the IMLS Data site: https://imls.gov/search-compare/

Instructions: Use the Institute of Museums and Library Services (IMLS) data site (above) to determine your cohort. A “cohort” is a group of libraries in which to compare your library.

Steps:
1. For your cohort, you will choose 9 other libraries, in addition to your hometown library. (Hometown library: Athens-Clarke County Library, Athens, Ga). You can search the IMLS data site provided to find all the public libraries in the state.

2. The IMLS data site (above) does not include population statistics for the community served. In addition to the data from the IMLS site, it would be best to identify the population of the community in order to have a good comparison. Most of the libraries in the IMLS site serve counties, but some serve just cities, so try to compare apples to apples. The population search will have to be from some other source (and Wikipedia is OK to use for this purpose, or any other source with population data). The populations do not have to be an exact match – ballpark figure is better.

3. Look at the IMLS data site data categories. Determine the categories you’ll use for comparison. You’ll see nine categories of data (framed in “boxes). Use the six categories, and skip the (1) Electronic Technology, (2) Programs and (3) Program Attendance categories. There are a lot of data points. Make this easy on yourself. Don’t try to use every data point to compare. Choose the most relevant, but one data point per category is best. You may use more. Choice of data point is a key issue. You want to choose data points with the most usefulness. Part of your work is to determine and justify the usefulness of the data points you used.

4. Once you have established your cohort:
a. create a chart/spreadsheet of your choices and comparative data.
b. write an explanation of your choices and why you chose them
c. where does your library fit within the list of cohorts (i.e. the rank among the 10) and how would you use this cohort information to improve your library and use for advocating for your library