PLA seeks responses to 2022 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey

(CHICAGO) - The Public Library Association (PLA) has opened its annual survey and seeks responses to the 2022 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey. This unique national survey focuses on current and emerging programs, services, partnerships, and facilities in public libraries and how these meet community needs and foster resilience. The survey is open now through December 10, 2022, and all survey participants are entered into a drawing to win PLA 2024 Conference registration.

Every U.S. public library (including all tribal libraries) is invited to participate in the survey at librarybenchmark.org. Through Benchmark, all public libraries have free access that allows them to: 

• View and complete open surveys, including the 2022 Public Library Services for Strong Communities Survey. 
• See the library’s responses submitted to past PLA surveys. 
• View charts of selected library metrics with peer comparisons. 
• Manage the library’s contact information and contact preferences to ensure the library receives survey-related communications. 
• Access data-related resources. 

Library staff may email plabenchmark@ala.org with any questions about the survey or for assistance accessing the library’s Benchmark account. The 2022 survey is the third in a set of three new annual topical surveys gathering unique data that complement the annual IMLS Public Libraries Survey (PLS) and state library surveys. PLA will publish a freely available report of national findings within the year after data is submitted. Reports on the 2020 Technology Survey and 2021 Staff and Diversity Survey results can be found on our website. 

The survey was developed by the PLA Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Committee in response to field-wide discussions and interest in actionable data about library programs, services, facilities, and partnerships. These survey questions also are among the most frequently asked by policymakers, funders, and members of the media.

“We know from IMLS data that public libraries offered more than 3 million programs in FY2020, with more than 78 million people attending these programs, but we lack national data about the types of programs and services offered—ranging from STEAM to adult literacy to small business development programs,” said PLA President Maria McCauley.

“Data from questions related to library facilities will also aid advocacy efforts like the recent Build America’s Libraries Act, as well as help us better understand library roles related to sustainability and resilience. PLA is committed to collecting and using actionable data with and for our members nationwide. I hope every library will participate.”

Explore all of PLA’s Data-Driven Librarianship resources online at https://www.ala.org/pla/data.