Public Library Computer Technology Benchmarks

This 200+ page study is based on a survey of public libraries in the USA, Canada and Australia and gives detailed data on library purchasing and deployment plans for laptops, personal computers, netbooks, tablet computers, eBook readers and other computer technology.

The study also gives detailed data on computer literacy efforts for patrons, use of outsourcing in IT management, the development of in-library computer centers, budgets for library technology help desks and other facets of information technology management for public libraries.

Just a few of the report's many findings are that:

Nearly 80% of the libraries surveyed have a plan that calls for "turning over" or replacing the library's stock of computers within a certain number of years; all of the non-US libraries have such a plan in place, as compared to 76.32% of US libraries. For those with a replacement plan the mean cycle is 4.46 years.

78% of the survey participants indicated they do not loan out laptop computers to patrons

14% have lost a mobile computing device to patron theft.

Only 10% of responders have computers that can dual-boot Apple and Microsoft operating systems.

The mean number of eBook reading devices per library was 1.49. Although the maximum was 14, the median was 0.

Nearly 30% of the libraries surveyed do not outsource any computer or workstation information technology functions whatsoever, functions such as maintenance and/or repairs.