1. Keith Curry Lance Consultant KeithCurryLance.com
The LJ Index of Public Library Service: National & Colorado Perspectives
Keith Curry Lance
Consultant
KeithCurryLance.com

2. Outline LJ Index primer Colorado Stars 2015
What to Do with Star Rating
What to Do with LJ Index Score
Steps to consider
Your questions, comments & suggestions
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

3. LJ Index Primer Which public libraries are included
What data elements are used
How libraries are grouped
How scores are calculated
How star ratings are determined
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

4. LJ Index Primer Which public libraries are included
Federal definition of public library
Public funding, paid staff, organized collection, facilities open to public, scheduled hours
Population of legal service area = 1,000+
Total operating expenditures = $10k+
All LJ Index data available
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

5. LJ Index Primer What data elements are used Visits per capita
Circulation per capita
Program attendance per capita
Uses of public Internet computers per capita
Why not registered borrowers, reference, or interlibrary loan?
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

6. LJ Index Primer How libraries are grouped $30.0M 51 $10.0-29.9M 112
209
$ M
1,397
$ K
1,446
$ K
1,209
$ K
1,257
$50-99K
1,088
$10-49K
894
LJI Total
7,663
How libraries are grouped
Based on total operating expenditures (not LSA population)
Except for highest-spending, designed to equalize peer group size
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

7. LJ Index Primer How scores are calculated Per capita statistic
Standard deviation (distance from mean, or average—versus rank)
Standard (z) score (standardizes varying ranges of 4 per capita statistics)
Sum of 4 z scores
Adjustment to eliminate negative scores
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

8. LJ Index Primer Factors affecting scores LSA population
Community demographics & socio-economic characteristics
Library governance & funding
… and, of course
Data accuracy
Data comparability from library to library
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

9. LJ Index Primer How star ratings are determined
5 star libraries: top 10 LJI scores (1-10)
4 star libraries: second 10 LJI scores (11-20)
3 star libraries: third 10 LJI scores (21-30)
Exception: $30M+ group—5 libraries in each star group
In rare cases of ties, 10 scores might include more than 10 libraries
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

10. Colorado Stars 2015 *** **** ***** Spending peers Stars Library
Circu-lation
Visits
Program atten-dance
Public Internet computer use
$10M-29.9M
***
Arapahoe
17.4
8.3
0.5
1.3
$30M+
Denver
15.5
6.9
0.6
1.5
Douglas
25.3
6.5
0.8
$50K-99.9K
****
Holyoke
26.8
8.0
1.7
5.7
$100K-199.9K
*****
La Veta
31.2
40.3
2.2
7.2
Limon
22.8
19.8
0.2
5.5
$1M-4.9M
Telluride
42.0
43.6
8.7
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

11. What to Do with Star Rating
Ask lots of questions
Compare data with peers
Consider trends over time
Exercise bragging rights
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

12. What to Do with LJ Index Score
Consider 4 per-capita statistics & their individual impact on it
Consider where it falls in your spending peer group
Do some do-it-yourself analysis (state, legal basis type, urban/suburban/rural setting, central/no central, # outlets, # staff, etc.)
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

13. Steps to Consider
Review of local data collection & reporting activities
Review of local compliance with federal-state definitions
Assessment of data reported by spending & other peers
Analysis of standing in relation to chosen peers
Local planning/ evaluation uses
Local PR/marketing uses
Engagement in determining data elements & definitions
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

14. Your Questions, Comments & Suggestions
What is not clear?
What seems problematic?
What do you wish was done differently?
What kinds of help do you need?
Do you use it? How likely is it that you will use it?
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

15. For More Information
2015 LJ Index home page:
FAQ
State-by-State Stars
Do-It-Yourself Projects
E-Circ Not Ready for Prime Time
Understanding Star Status Shifts
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

16. For More Information
LJ Index page on Keith’s consulting website:
2008 article proposing Index design
2011 to 2015 article links
Note: 2009 (2) and 2010 articles no longer on LJ Online
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –

17. Contact Information
LJ Editors
Meredith Schwartz, Executive Editor:
Rebecca Miller, Editorial Director, LJ & SLJ:
LJI Co-Creators
Keith Curry Lance:
Ray Lyons:
Keith Curry Lance – Consultant – KeithCurryLance.com –