ARL Statistics Questionnaire 2011–2012 · 35
ARL Statistics Questionnaire 2011–2012
Instructions for Completing the Questionnaire
http://www.arlstatistics.org/
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Definitions of statistical categories can be found in NISO Z39.7-2004, Information
Services and Use: Metrics &statistics for libraries and information providers—Data Dictionary (http://www.
niso.org/). ARL has augmented some of the language used here to clarify issues of emerging importance to the
community based on advice from the ARL Statistics and Assessment Committee (http://www.arl.org/stats/
aboutstats/index.shtml).
• Please do not use decimals. All figures should be rounded to the nearest whole number.
• Please respond to every question. If an exact figure cannot be provided at the data entry form level,
leave it blank. The Primary Contact should carefully review the totals for each question and if they are
not representative of the overall institution, the Primary Contact can mark the question NA/UA at the
publication level screen.
Although the form allows for data to be entered from both main and branch campuses, an effort should
be made to report figures for the main campus only. (The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics,
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) defines a branch institution as “a campus or
site of an educational institution that is not temporary, is located in a community beyond a reasonable
commuting distance from its parent institution, and offers organized programs of study, not just courses”).
If figures for libraries located at branch campuses are reported, please specify which branch libraries are
included and which ones are excluded in the FOOTNOTES section of the ARL Statistics Worksheet.
• A branch library is defined as an auxiliary library service outlet with quarters separate from the
central library of an institution, which has a basic collection of books and other materials, a regular staffing
level, and an established schedule. A branch library is administered either by the central library or (as in
the case of some law and medical libraries) through the administrative structure of other units within
the university. Departmental study/reading rooms are not included.
• The questionnaire assumes a fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. If your fiscal year is different, please indicate
this in the FOOTNOTES section of the ARL Statistics Worksheet by adjusting the reporting period.
• Footnotes. Explanatory footnotes will be included with the published statistics. Provide any notes you
may have in the footnotes area at the end of the survey. Reporting libraries are urged to record there any
information that would clarify the figures submitted in that line, e.g., the inclusion and exclusion of branch
campus libraries. Please make an effort to word your footnotes in a manner consistent with notes appearing
in the published report, so that the ARL Office can interpret your footnotes correctly. Please use a concise
sentence/paragraph format when writing footnotes—do not use “bullets” or make a “bullet list.”
ARL Statistics Questionnaire 2011–2012
Instructions for Completing the Questionnaire
http://www.arlstatistics.org/
GENERAL OVERVIEW: Definitions of statistical categories can be found in NISO Z39.7-2004, Information
Services and Use: Metrics &statistics for libraries and information providers—Data Dictionary (http://www.
niso.org/). ARL has augmented some of the language used here to clarify issues of emerging importance to the
community based on advice from the ARL Statistics and Assessment Committee (http://www.arl.org/stats/
aboutstats/index.shtml).
• Please do not use decimals. All figures should be rounded to the nearest whole number.
• Please respond to every question. If an exact figure cannot be provided at the data entry form level,
leave it blank. The Primary Contact should carefully review the totals for each question and if they are
not representative of the overall institution, the Primary Contact can mark the question NA/UA at the
publication level screen.
Although the form allows for data to be entered from both main and branch campuses, an effort should
be made to report figures for the main campus only. (The U.S. National Center for Education Statistics,
Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) defines a branch institution as “a campus or
site of an educational institution that is not temporary, is located in a community beyond a reasonable
commuting distance from its parent institution, and offers organized programs of study, not just courses”).
If figures for libraries located at branch campuses are reported, please specify which branch libraries are
included and which ones are excluded in the FOOTNOTES section of the ARL Statistics Worksheet.
• A branch library is defined as an auxiliary library service outlet with quarters separate from the
central library of an institution, which has a basic collection of books and other materials, a regular staffing
level, and an established schedule. A branch library is administered either by the central library or (as in
the case of some law and medical libraries) through the administrative structure of other units within
the university. Departmental study/reading rooms are not included.
• The questionnaire assumes a fiscal year ending June 30, 2012. If your fiscal year is different, please indicate
this in the FOOTNOTES section of the ARL Statistics Worksheet by adjusting the reporting period.
• Footnotes. Explanatory footnotes will be included with the published statistics. Provide any notes you
may have in the footnotes area at the end of the survey. Reporting libraries are urged to record there any
information that would clarify the figures submitted in that line, e.g., the inclusion and exclusion of branch
campus libraries. Please make an effort to word your footnotes in a manner consistent with notes appearing
in the published report, so that the ARL Office can interpret your footnotes correctly. Please use a concise
sentence/paragraph format when writing footnotes—do not use “bullets” or make a “bullet list.”
