Section 7: Library Services — Electronic

7.40 CIPA Compliant

Is your library compliant with CIPA (Children’s Internet Protection Act)?

Note: For CIPA compliance your library must have an Internet safety policy that includes technology protection measures and provide a means to block images that constitute obscenity, child pornography and prevent minors from obtaining access to material that is harmful to them. All library computers, including staff computers, must have a technology protection measure installed and running that blocks obscene/child pornography images. An authorized person may disable the blocking or filtering measure during use by an adult to enable access for bona fide research or other lawful purposes. The library must have an internet safety policy adopted by the board at a public meeting.

7.41 Number of Uses (Sessions) of Public Internet Computers Per Year

Report the total number of uses (sessions) of the library’s Internet computers in the library during the last year. If the computer is used for multiple purposes (Internet access, word-processing, OPAC, etc.) and Internet uses (sessions) cannot be isolated, report all usage. A typical week or other reliable estimate may be used to determine the annual number. Sign-up forms or Web-log tracking software also may provide a reliable count of uses (sessions).

Note: This count includes only the library’s Internet computers. Do not include WiFi access using non-library computers. The number of uses (sessions) may be counted manually, using registration logs. Count each use (session) for public internet computers, regardless of the amount of time spent on the computer. A use (session) on the library’s public internet computer(s) three times a year would count as three uses (sessions). Software such as “Historian” can also be used to track the number of uses (sessions) at each public internet computer. If the data element is collected as a weekly figure, multiply that figure by 52 to annualize it.

7.42 Reporting Method for Uses of Internet Computers Per Year

Regarding the Number of Uses (Sessions) of Public Internet Computers per Year (data element 651) entered, is this an annual count or an annual estimate based on a typical week or weeks?

Select one of the following:

  • CT—Annual Count
  • ES—Annual Estimate Based on Typical Week(s)

7.43 Website visits

Visits represent the annual number of sessions initiated by all users from inside or outside the library to the library website. The library website consists of all webpages under the library’s domain. A website “visit” or “session” occurs when a user connects to the library’s website for any length of time or purpose, regardless of the number of pages or elements viewed. Usage of library social media accounts (e.g., Facebook, Twitter, etc.) should not be reported here. A visit is usually determined by each user’s unique IP address, and/or their login account name when they are accessing secure parts of the website. The details for website visits/sessions are contained within the access log file for the web server(s) and may be accessible using log file analysis or web analytics reporting tools.

Virtual visits include a user’s request of the library website or catalog from outside the library. A single visit to a website may involve loading of numerous web pages or gratuitous elements (images, style sheets, etc.) If you are unable to report this number, check the box “Unavailable” (to the right of the data entry field) and a “-1” will be automatically entered.

7.44 Wireless Sessions per year

Report the number of wireless sessions provided by the library wireless service annually. If you are unable to report this number, check the box “Unavailable” (to the right of the data entry field) and a “-1” will be automatically entered.

7.45 Reporting Method for Wireless Sessions

Regarding the number of Wireless Sessions (data element 652) entered, is this an annual count or an annual estimate based on a typical week or weeks of hardware logging or network scanning?

Select one of the following:

  • CT—Annual Count
  • ES—Annual Estimate Based on Typical Week(s)

7.46 Number of Internet Terminals

This is an automatic sum of the number of terminals entered for each bookmobile and outlet in sections 9 and 10.

7.47 ILS System

An Integrated Library System (ILS) is a planning system for the library used to track items, orders, bills, circulation, etc.

  • Alma (Ex Libris)
  • Apollo (Biblionix)
  • Atriuum (Book Systems)
  • CARLX (TLC)
  • Evergreen (Equinox)
  • FOLIO (EBSCO)
  • Horizon (SirsiDynix)
  • Koha (Equinox)
  • Library Solution (TLC)
  • Polaris (Innovative)
  • Primo (Ex Libris)
  • Sierra (Innovative)
  • Summon (Ex Libris)
  • Symphony (SirsiDynix)
  • Vega (Innovative)
  • VERSO (Auto-Graphics)
  • WorldCat Discovery (OCLC)
  • Worldshare Management Services (OCLC)