SLAA 2014 Summary and Justification of Changes

Justification for Change

State Library Administrative Agency (SLAA) Survey (FY 2014)

IMLS is requesting a change to a previously approved clearance in order to revise, add and delete data elements. This change is requesting the same expiration date of 11/30/2016.

Abstract

The State Library Administrative Agency Survey has been conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services under the clearance number 3137-0072, which expires 11/30/2016. Pursuant to P.L. 107-279, this State Library Administrative Agency Survey collects bi-annual descriptive information about state library agencies. The data are collected from the 50 states and the District of Columbia. These data includes state library agency identification, governance, public service hours, service outlets, collections, library service transactions, library development transactions, services to other libraries in the state, allied operations, staff, income, expenditures, and electronic services and information. The survey was collected annually since 1994. After 2010, the data collection occurs every two years. These data collected are useful to Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), policymakers in the executive and legislative branches of federal and state governments, government and library administrators at the federal, state, and local levels, the American Library Association and its members or customers, library and public policy researchers, the public, journalists, and others.

Justification for changing, adding, and deleting data elements

The items on this survey (specifically Part D) have been asked continuously since 1994 with relatively few changes. Our proposed revisions are intended to update and modernize certain elements of this survey with the goals of capturing better data, improving clarity, and reducing unnecessary burden of the respondents.

List of changes:

1. Removed questions:

• LSTA state program expenditures by use [194, 195,196,197,198]. This question used an outdated method for categorizing expenditures. Respondents found it difficult and burdensome to complete.

• Removed OCLC Group Access Capability (GAC) [60]; This question was deemed outdated

• Retrospective conversion of bibliographic records [63]; This question was deemed outdated

• Union list development [69]; This question was deemed outdated
  
  
  

2. Replaced/clarified these existing questions:

• Literacy program support [59]; concept changed based on feedback; expanded to incorporate multiple forms of literacy

• Administration of LSTA grants [49] was replaced with two questions that specifically clarifies the two types of administration which are: LSTA state program grants [75] and LSTA Statewide Services [76]
  
  
  

3. Added these questions:

• Administration of library system support [71]

• Involvement in the acquisition of other federal program funds [72]

• Statewide reading programs [73]

• State wide resource sharing [74]

These questions were added to provide additional information that better encapsulate current state library administrative agency activities.

4. Added four follow-up questions

These questions appear to the respondent only if respondent answers in the affirmative to questions 53, 59, 72, and 73 respectively. These questions help to provide us more specific information about the types of services and programs respondents are providing.

1. 53.1. Which of the following consulting services do you provide?

2. 59.1. Which of the following types of literacy programs do you support?

3. 72.1. Which federal agencies other than IMLS do you apply for funding from?

4. 73.1 Do you support the following target populations for statewide reading promotion campaigns?
   
   
   

1. Reordered and grouped the questions in Part D (pg 4) into logical groupings to ease response.