59 ARL Statistics 2014–2015
1
© 2015 Association of Research Libraries, Washington, DC
ARL STATISTICS QUESTIONNAIRE, 2014–15
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://arlstatistics.org/about/committee).
Login to submit your data at http://arlstatistics.org/dashboard
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. See the Web Data Entry Instructions on the mailing website for further details:
http://www.arlstatistics.org/About/Mailings/stats_2014-15.
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, 2015. 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.”
1
© 2015 Association of Research Libraries, Washington, DC
ARL STATISTICS QUESTIONNAIRE, 2014–15
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://arlstatistics.org/about/committee).
Login to submit your data at http://arlstatistics.org/dashboard
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. See the Web Data Entry Instructions on the mailing website for further details:
http://www.arlstatistics.org/About/Mailings/stats_2014-15.
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, 2015. 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.”
