Section 7: Library Services — Programming

A program is any planned event which introduces the group attending to any of the broad range of library services or activities or which directly provides information to participants. Programs may cover use of the library, library services, or library tours. Programs may also provide cultural, recreational, or educational information, often designed to meet a specific social need. Examples of these types of programs include film showings; lectures; story hours; literacy, English as a second language, and citizenship classes; and book discussions.

Count all programs, whether held on- or off-site, that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Exclude programs sponsored by other groups that use library facilities. If programs are offered as a series, count each program in the series. For example, a film series offered once a week for eight weeks should be counted as eight programs. Report the number of programs and attendance, by age group.

Note: Exclude library activities delivered on a one-to-one basis, rather than to a group, such as one-to-one literacy tutoring, services to homebound, resume writing assistance, homework assistance, and mentoring activities.

Programming for Children 0-5

A program session targeted at children ages 0-5 is any planned event for which the primary audience is infants, toddlers, or preschool-age children. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, story hours, every child ready to read programs, musical or sing-along events, and puppet shows. Include program sessions aimed at children ages 0-5 even if adult caregivers also attend. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.

Count all 0-5 children’s programs, whether held on- or off-site, that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Do not include children’s programs sponsored by other groups that use library facilities. If children’s programs are offered as a series, count each program in the series. For example, a story hour offered once a week, 48 weeks a year, should be counted as 48 programs. Exclude library activities for children delivered on a one-to-one basis, rather than to a group, such as one-to-one literacy tutoring, services to homebound, homework assistance, and mentoring activities.

7.25a # of Live, In-person Children’s Programs for ages 0-5

A 0-5 program where library staff (or other party sponsored by the library) and participants are physically located in the same location at the same time during the program.

7.25b # of Live, Virtual Children’s programs for ages 0-5

A 0-5 children’s library program conducted via a Web conferencing or Webinar platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom, during which a library staff member (or other party sponsored by the library) is presenting to or interacting with an audience in real-time.

7.26a Attendance at Live, In-person Children’s programs for ages 0-5

Count all people who attend 0-5 programs regardless of age. Participants and library staff (or other party sponsored by library) are physically located in same location during the program.

7.26b Attendance at Live, Virtual Children’s programs for ages 0-5

Regardless of the number of formats in which a program session is offered, each attendee or view should only be counted once. Count each participant device connected to a virtual program as a single attendee. For program sessions hosted on Facebook Live, YouTube Live, or similar platforms, count peak concurrent viewers. For those hosted on videoconferencing platforms, count the maximum number of non-staff participants during the session.

Programming for Children 6-11

A program session targeted at children ages 6-11 is any planned event for which the primary audience is elementary-school-age children. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, story hours, science events, crafting classes, and summer reading events. Include program sessions aimed at children ages 6-11 even if adult caregivers also attend with the children. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.

Count all 6-11 children’s programs, whether held on- or off-site, that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Do not include children’s programs sponsored by other groups that use library facilities. If children’s programs are offered as a series, count each program in the series. For example, a story hour offered once a week, 48 weeks a year, should be counted as 48 programs. Exclude library activities for children delivered on a one-to-one basis, rather than to a group, such as one-to-one literacy tutoring, services to homebound, homework assistance, and mentoring activities.

7.27a # of Live, In-person Children’s Programs for ages 6-11

A 6-11 program where library staff (or other party sponsored by the library) and participants are physically located in the same location at the same time during the program.

7.27b # of Live, Virtual Children’s programs for ages 6-11

A 6-11 children’s library program conducted via a Web conferencing or Webinar platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom, during which a library staff member (or other party sponsored by the library) is presenting to or interacting with an audience in real-time.

7.28a Attendance at Live, In-person Children’s programs for ages 6-11

Count all people who attend 6-11 programs regardless of age. Participants and library staff (or other party sponsored by library) are physically located in same location during the program.

7.28b Attendance at Live, Virtual Children’s programs for ages 6-11

Young Adult Programming

A Young Adult (YA) program is any planned event for which the primary audience is young adults age 12 to 18 and which introduces the group of young adults attending to any of the broad range of library services or activities for young adults or which directly provides information to participants. Young adult programs may cover use of the library, library services, or library tours. Young adult programs may also provide cultural, recreational, or educational information, often designed to meet a specific social need. Examples of these types of programs include book clubs and summer reading events.

Count all young adult programs, whether held on- or off-site, that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Do not include young adult programs sponsored by other groups that use library facilities. If young adult programs are offered as a series, count each program in the series. For example, a book club offered every two weeks, 24 weeks a year, should be counted as 24 programs. Exclude library activities for young adults delivered on a one-to-one basis, rather than to a group, such as one-to-one literacy tutoring, services to homebound, homework assistance, and mentoring activities.

Note: Young Adult age is defined as 12 through 18 years and includes 18- year-olds. The Young Adult Library Services Association (YALSA) defines young adults as age 12 through 18.

7.29a # of Live, In-person Young Adult Programs

A YA program where library staff (or other party sponsored by the library) and participants are physically located in the same location at the same time during the program.

7.29b # of Live, Virtual Young Adult Programs

A YA library program conducted via a Web conferencing or Webinar platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom, during which a library staff member (or other party sponsored by the library) is presenting to or interacting with an audience in real-time.

7.30a Attendance at Live, In-person Young Adult Programs

Count all people who attend YA programs regardless of age. Participants and library staff (or other party sponsored by library) are physically located in same location during the program.

7.30b Attendance at Live, Virtual Young Adult Programs

Adult Programming

An adult program session is any planned event for which the primary audience is adults age 19 or older. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, book discussions, citizenship classes, and lectures. Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience.

7.31a # of Live, In-person Adult Programs

An adult program where library staff (or other party sponsored by the library) and participants are physically located in the same location at the same time during the program.

7.31b # of Live, Virtual Adult Programs

An adult library program conducted via a Web conferencing or Webinar platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom, during which a library staff member (or other party sponsored by the library) is presenting to or interacting with an audience in real-time.

7.32a Attendance at Live, In-person Adult Programs

Count all people who attend adult programs regardless of age. Participants and library staff (or other party sponsored by library) are physically located in same location during the program.

7.32b Attendance at Live, Virtual Adult Programs

General Interest Programming

A general interest program session is any planned event that is appropriate for any age group or multiple age groups. Include all-age, all-library, family, and intergenerational program sessions. Examples of these types of program sessions include, but are not limited to, family game nights, holiday events, storytelling programs, or chess clubs. Include all programs here that do not fit into the other age category elements.

Each program session should only be counted in one age category based on its primary target audience; do not include program sessions here that have already been counted in earlier age category elements. Avoid including program sessions that are targeted at more than one non-adult age category (and are not targeted at adults); these should be counted in the child or young adult age category that best represents the target audience.

7.33a # of Live, In-person programs for a general audience

Any general interest program where library staff (or other party sponsored by the library) and participants are physically located in the same location at the same time during the program.

7.33b # of Live, Virtual programs for a general audience

A library program for general audiences conducted via a Web conferencing or Webinar platform such as Facebook, YouTube, or Zoom, during which a library staff member (or other party sponsored by the library) is presenting to or interacting with an audience in real-time.

7.34a Attendance at Live, In-person General Interest Programs

Count all people who attend general interest programs regardless of age. Participants and library staff (or other party sponsored by library) are physically located in same location during the program.

7.34b Attendance at Live, Virtual General Interest Programs

Off-Site Programming

An offsite program is any program sponsored or co-sponsored by the library that takes place outside a library facility (including bookmobiles) or off library grounds regardless of primary target audience. This would include visits by library staff or volunteers to a school, adult center, etc., or programs provided via pop-up mobile units.

Note: These programs should also be included in responses for above age- related programming/attendance. (Answer the question “Of the live, in-person programs and attendance that I reported in the categories above, how many were off-site?”)

7.35a Number of Off-Site Programs

This is a subset of the in-person programs you have reported above. Of the programs listed above, report those programs held off-site that are sponsored or co-sponsored by the library. Do not include programs sponsored by other groups that use library facilities/resources. If programs are offered as a series, count each program in the series. For example, a film series offered once a week for eight weeks should be counted as eight programs.

7.35b Off-Site Program Attendance

The actual count of attendance at off-site programs over the course of adults, young adults and children, at programs which have been sponsored or co-sponsored by the library that takes place outside a library facility (including bookmobiles) or off library grounds regardless of primary target audience.

Recorded Programming

7.36a Total recordings of program content

A recording of program content is a video or audio recording of content that meets the definition of a program but is not viewed live as it unfolds.

Asynchronous program presentations are recorded videos or audio of program content that are posted online for downloading or on-demand viewing (rather than livestreaming). Only include program presentations posted during the reporting period. Include live program sessions that are recorded and posted online. Count each unique video or audio recording only once regardless of the number of platforms on which it is posted. Do not duplicate numbers at each branch; count only at the administrative entity level.

7.36b Total views of recorded program content

Count of views of previously-recorded program presentations for a period of up to thirty (30) days after the presentation was posted, even if that period extends beyond the survey reporting period (or fiscal year). For program presentations made available via Facebook, count unique 1-minute views of each video. For those made available via other platforms, count unique views of each video.

Note: For events made available via Facebook, report 1 minute views. For other platforms, report unique views.

Self-Directed Activities

Activities provided for patrons without the expectation of staff interaction while the activity is being completed. Craft bags for children to take home, social media challenges, and story-walks are all examples

7.37 Number of Self-directed Activities

Count each activity that is offered once. For example, a jewelry making kit should be counted once, even if there are 20 copies of it.

7.38 Number of participants

Approximately how many patrons took part? It is understood that this is a difficult number to capture, as staff are not present. Entering “-1” (unavailable) is acceptable.

7.39 Description of activities

Open-text: describe or list activities offered