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Annual Report Overview and FAQ

A resource for general information and frequently asked questions revolving around Pennsylvania's Annual Report (Public Library Survey).

Section T - Bookmobile Report

A bookmobile is a truck or van that serves as a traveling branch library and is specially equipped to carry an organized collection of library materials. The bookmobile has paid staff and a regular schedule of public hours (bookmobile stops).

If the library has transitioned the bookmobile to an outreach vehicle that no longer meets the above definition of a bookmobile, please contact the Amy Geisinger at ageisinger@pa.gov to explain the current services to determine if it meets the bookmobile definition for purposes of this report.

General Information

This subsection reports basic information required for the national Public Library Survey (PLS).

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

T-1

Does the library have a bookmobile or bookmobiles?

Prefilled based on State Aid Library Subsidy Application

T-2

Library Bookmobile LIBID Number

Library Bookmobile LIBID Number. The nine-digit number permanently assigned to the main library or library system.  The LIBID number will be the same for all outlets associated with an administrative entity. 

T-3

If this bookmobile was deemed permanently out of service during the reporting year, please mark the “closed" box.

T-4

Bookmobile Name

The name of the bookmobile. This question is locked. Please contact the State Aid Office at ra-stateaid@pa.gov if changes need to be made.

T-5

Report Period Start Date

This question is locked. Please contact the State Aid Office at ra-stateaid@pa.gov if changes need to be made.

T-6

Report Period End Date

This question is locked. Please contact the State Aid Office at ra-stateaid@pa.gov if changes need to be made.

This subsection lists the physical address of the administrative entity from which the bookmobile operates.  The information is prefilled. If the information is incorrect, please reach out to Amy Geisinger at ageisinger@pa.gov and complete the Library and Organization Update Form.

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

T-7

Bookmobile Street Address

Enter the physical location of the administrative entity, central library or branch from which the bookmobile operates. For a bookmobile that is itself the administrative entity, report the address where the bookmobile is parked at night.

T-8

City/town

T-9

State

T-10

Zip

T-11

County

This subsection reports information concerning the person responsible for the day-to-day management of the branch (branch manager) and the square footage of the branch.  

Both calendar year and fiscal year libraries should report personnel as of December 31, 2024.

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

T-12

Bookmobile Telephone Number

Bookmobile Telephone Number. Include area code. Enter number without spacing or punctuation. This question is locked. Please contact the State Aid Office at ra-stateaid@pa.gov if changes need to be made.

T-13

Librarian in Charge of Bookmobile Service

Enter the name of the person who is currently in charge of bookmobile service.

This subsection reports the hours open to the public.

Both calendar year and fiscal year libraries should report total hours of operation from January 1, 2024, through December 31, 2024.

Things to remember when completing this section:

  • Report the standard number of hours per week the bookmobile has public stops throughout the community.

  • Report the number of weeks the bookmobile library has public stops. The count should be based on the number of weeks that the bookmobile held public stops for half or more of its scheduled service stops. Extensive weeks closed to the public due to mechanical issues, natural disasters or other events should be excluded from the count. Round to the nearest whole number.

  • To calculate the total public service hours per year, take the total possible open hours (Number of hours of public stops per week x (times) 52 weeks) and subtract the total hours closed during the reporting year (holiday closure hours and any long-term closures due to emergencies or natural disasters). There is no need to subtract hours closed for snow delays/closures or early closures.

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

T-14

Standard hours per week Bookmobile is open for public services throughout the community

Hours Per Week Bookmobile is at Stops. List the standard hours per week the bookmobile is open for public services throughout the community.

T-15

Number of weeks during the year the Bookmobile is open to the public

Count the weeks the bookmobile is held public service stops.

T-16

Total public service hours for Bookmobile per year

Include the actual hours open for public service stops of  the bookmobile for the entire reporting period. 

This subsection reports information concerning the bookmobile’s collection, circulation, and collection expenditure.

Both calendar year and fiscal year libraries should report collection information as of December 31, 2024.

Libraries should report the collection expenditure data element based on their library’s budgetary year. 

Things to remember when completing this subsection:

  • The information entered here should also be included in the figures reported by the administrative entity in previous sections.

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

MODIFIED: Updated Data Element for clarification

T-17

Number of Items in the bookmobile's collection as of December 31, 2024

Report items the branch library has in its cataloged collection. Figure should be included in the administrative entity's figure reported in Section E - Library Collection.

T-18

Shelf Capacity of Bookmobile

Shelf Capacity of Bookmobile.

T-19

Total Bookmobile Circulation

The total annual circulation of all library materials of all types, including renewals, from the bookmobile. Count all materials in all formats that are charged out for use by the public. Interlibrary loan transactions included are only items borrowed for users. Do not include items checked out to another library. Figure should be included in the administrative entity's counts within Section F. Library Usage.

T-20

Bookmobile Collection Expenditures

Bookmobile Collection Expenditures. Report the collection expenditure designated specifically for the bookmobile. Figure should be included in the administrative entity\'s expenditures in Section K - Operating Expenditures.

These data elements are designated by the American Research Institute (AIR) and the Institute for Museum and Library Services (IMLS) for the national Public Library Survey. If you feel that any information in this section is inaccurate, please contact the state data advisor, Amy Geisinger at ageisinger@pa.gov.

Status

Number

Data Element

Description/Definition

PLSC ID

This is the identification code assigned by PLS Web Portal to the administrative entity.

PLSC SEQ

This is the secondary identification code assigned by PLS Web Portal to the outlet of an administrative entity.

Metropolitan Status Code

Identifies: Central City, Metropolitan Area, but not within Central City, or Not in a Metropolitan Area

Outlet Type Code

An outlet is a unit of an administrative entity that provides direct public library service. An outlet is either a central library, a branch library, or a bookmobile.

Number of Bookmobiles in the Bookmobile Outlet Record