guerilla-librarian

[guerilla-librarian]

Evolution of Washington State Library Systems

By: EF, MB, ZG, CM

Introduction

With all of the challenges public libraries are facing in 2024, such as limited hours, staffing shortages, restricted budgets, book bans, and complete closures, we wanted to compare library branch statistics and see the overall evolution of libraries over the past twenty years. The 21st century brought with it a wave of change for libraries with the implementation of computers, online collections, and digital catalogs. These changes can be seen in the data libraries choose to record. For example, the 2001 dataset includes a column for the number of computers each library had, which for many was zero, a fact that would be considered unnecessary to add today. With this in mind, we examined different library datasets and decided upon Washington State Libraries.

Washington State Libraries (WSL) publishes data online from each library system and individual library branch in Washington State, starting from the year 2001. Using the datasets from 2001 and 2022, we aimed to study the growth and transformation of WSL over the 21-year period. We investigated if WSL has kept up with user needs and if the increase in population and registered users correlates with their holdings and offerings. In addition, we compared budgets and staffing to see if there has been adequate change over time, or if the library systems have remained static. With computers and digital resources starting to become more common in libraries in the early 2000s, we examined the difference twenty years can make in technology acquisitions.

Using different categories from the 2001 and 2022 datasets, we compared statistics pertaining to hours open, physical and digital collection size, physical circulations, digital circulations, staff salaries, full-time staff, MLS-certified staff, and registered users. By focusing on individual library systems and their respective branches, we assessed whether there has been positive change and growth in their library statistics and if budgets have appropriately increased with inflation.

Dataset

The dataset under examination is sourced from the Washington State Secretary of State's website, specifically within the Washington State Library Publications section. This section provides a comprehensive collection of data related to library operations, usage, and resources across the state. The datasets are part of the Washington State Libraries' efforts to maintain transparency and provide public access to detailed information about library services. Access to the datasets is provided through the following links:

Washington State Library Publications 

2000 Dataset 

2022 Dataset 

Data Collection and Acquisition Process

Data collection within the Washington State Library system involves a collaborative effort spanning various library branches throughout Washington State. Personnel across these branches engage in routine operations, including tracking circulation, monitoring registered users, and assessing staff resources, as part of their daily responsibilities. The data collected at individual branches are then forwarded to the Washington State Library, where it undergoes aggregation and consolidation by dedicated staff members.

Purpose of Data Collection

The datasets are part of the Washington State Libraries' annual expenditure and usage reports for the Legislative District and Congressional District Factsheets. These reports aim to provide a detailed overview of library operations and resource utilization to inform legislative and congressional decision-making. For our research purposes, we used the collected data to compare usage statistics and draw conclusions based on our findings. By comparing data spanning 21 years, we sought to uncover trends, patterns, and shifts in patron behavior and library operations.

Data Manipulation

No alterations have been made to the original datasets to maintain data integrity and adhere to assignment guidelines. Our analysis revolved around direct comparisons between corresponding data points from 2001 and 2022, primarily focusing on annual circulation, registered users, and library staff metrics.

Ethics

While the dataset provides a rich repository of information, it has limitations. Its focus on Washington State libraries may limit generalizability to other regions. The temporal span of the data may overlook short-term trends or episodic events influencing library usage patterns. To mitigate these limitations, we adopted a nuanced approach to analysis, recognizing biases and uncertainties inherent in the data. Triangulating our findings with supplementary data sources or employing sensitivity analyses enhanced the robustness and reliability of our conclusions. Moreover, fostering transparency in our research methodology and engaging in reflexivity regarding the dataset's constraints contributed to the integrity and credibility of our research outcomes.

Navigating ethical considerations in data analysis and interpretation is imperative to uphold integrity and accountability. Beyond safeguarding sensitive information and ensuring compliance with privacy regulations, ethical conduct encompasses transparency in research practices and respect for stakeholder perspectives. As researchers, we are responsible for critically examining our biases and positionalities, recognizing how our backgrounds and affiliations may influence data interpretation and dissemination. Furthermore, engaging stakeholders, including library administrators and patrons, in the research process fosters collaboration and ensures that our analyses resonate with the lived experiences and priorities of those directly impacted by library services.

Methodology

We applied data cleaning and transformation methods to standardize and prepare the data for analysis. The computational approach involved several steps:

Data Cleaning: We used R to read and clean the datasets from 2001 and 2022. This involved renaming columns for consistency, removing unnecessary rows, and converting relevant columns to numeric data types for accurate analysis using mutate() and as. numeric() functions from the dplyr package.

Data Selection: We selected relevant columns from both datasets to focus on metrics such as registered users, annual circulations, and staff details using the select() function.

Data Aggregation and Summarization: We utilized functions like group_by(), summarize(), and arrange() from the dplyr package to aggregate and summarize the data, identifying key statistics and trends.

 Data Visualization: We used ggplot2 in R to create visualizations that compared the top 10 libraries by registered users for 2001 and 2022. These visualizations helped us identify patterns and trends in library usage over the years. Specifically, we used geom_bar() for bar plots and labs() for labeling the charts.

 Here are some key functions and techniques we used in our computational analysis:

 Reading Data: We used read_excel() to import the datasets into R.

Renaming Columns: We applied the rename() function to standardize column names across datasets.

Data Transformation: The mutate() function was used to convert character data to numeric where necessary.

Summarizing Data: We used summarize() and group_by() to aggregate data and calculate relevant statistics.

Sorting and Filtering: We employed arrange() and slice() to sort and filter the datasets for visualization.

 Visualization: The ggplot2 package was extensively used for creating various plots to visualize the data.

Argument & Evidence

Our analysis revealed significant changes in library usage, staffing, and resource allocation over the past two decades. The decline in registered users is particularly notable. The King County Library System experienced a remarkable decrease in registered users, declining from 888,604 in 2001 to 558,760 in 2022. Similarly, the Seattle Public Library also demonstrated a substantial decline in registered users, which could be attributed to the growth in at-home technology. However, the Sno-Isle Libraries significantly increased registered users, highlighting the varied impacts of digital transformation and community engagement strategies across different library systems. This diversity in outcomes underscores the need for tailored approaches to resource management and user engagement in the evolving landscape of public libraries.

Annual circulations also displayed notable shifts. Libraries such as the Seattle Public Library saw a substantial increase in circulations from 2001 to 2022, highlighting the increasing reliance on digital resources. This trend toward digitization in library services was evident across the top libraries, reflecting broader societal changes in how people access and consume information.

Staffing patterns revealed interesting trends as well. The number of MLS-accredited librarians has increased in several library systems, indicating a professionalization of library staff over the years. However, the ratio of MLS-accredited librarians to total staff varied significantly across different library systems. This disparity suggests differences in staff qualifications and resource allocation, highlighting the need for more standardized professional development opportunities across the state.

Examining individual libraries provided deeper insights. For instance, the Fort Vancouver Regional Library District maintained a steady number of registered users over the years, attributed to targeted community programs and efficient resource management. Meanwhile, the King County Library System and the Seattle Public Library consistently ranked among the top performers in terms of registered users and annual circulations, showcasing their robust library services and community engagement efforts, despite a decrease in registered users.

Data Visualization

Data Visualization 1 & 2: Top 10 Libraries with Most Annual Circulations in 2001 and 2022

This bar chart displays the top 10 libraries by the number of annual circulations in 2001 and 2022. The x-axis represents the library system names, while the y-axis shows the total number of annual circulations. The chart reveals which libraries were the most active in terms of physical book loans in 2001 and 2022, highlighting their importance within the community, and showing the increase of circulations over time. 

Data Visualization 3: Top 10 Libraries with Most Registered Users in 2022

This bar chart displays the distribution of registered users across various libraries in 2001 and 2022. The x-axis represents the library system names, while the y-axis shows the number of registered users. Red bars indicate the number of users in 2001, and black bars indicate the number of users in 2022.

Example(s)

To zoom in on a specific example, we examined the King County Library System, which showed a notable decrease in registered users from 2001 to 2022 as seen above. In 2001, the King County Library System had 888,604 registered users, which decreased to 558,760 by 2022. This significant decline could be attributed to various factors, including changes in population demographics, shifts in user preferences towards digital resources, or possibly funding and resource allocation challenges. The decrease in registered users highlights the challenges the library faces in adapting to changing community needs and technological advancements, making it a prime example of the impact of broader trends on library management and engagement.

Additionally, we observed that the Seattle Public Library experienced substantial growth in registered users, indicating effective community engagement and resource allocation strategies. This demonstrates that while some libraries face declines, others can thrive by adapting to new technologies and effectively reaching out to their communities.

These examples illustrate the varying impacts of digital transformation and funding challenges on different library systems, showcasing the diverse outcomes of library management strategies over the years.

Future Work

Future work could involve a more granular analysis of factors contributing to the growth or decline in registered users and annual circulations across different library systems. Additionally, further research could explore the impact of digital transformation on library services, examining how the integration of digital resources and technology has influenced user behavior and library usage patterns. Collaborating with library administrators and stakeholders to identify best practices and successful strategies for community engagement and resource management would also be beneficial. Finally, expanding the analysis to include more recent data and additional years could provide a more comprehensive understanding of long-term trends and developments in the Washington State Library system.