Public Library Data Service, Statistical Report 2004 (Public Library Association) Reporting the previous year's data, this is updated annually, with a different special survey each year. Condensed from the PLA site: "Designed to aid in and enhance the public library planning and evaluation process... the current edition will help library managers identify top performing libraries, compare service levels and technology usage, and provide documentation for funding requests. Also included are the results of a special survey on filtering in public libraries.The data contained in this year's report was collected from 1000 public libraries. Categories include financial information, library resources and per capita measures, annual use figures, technology-related statistics and more. Library identification is also provided."
Collecting and Using Public Library Statistics: A How-To-Do-It Manual (Mark Smith, pub by Neal-Schuman, 1995) Publisher's Description: "Statistics can be an invaluable tool for improving community relations, library service, and funding -- when collected properly and presented effectively. Librarians can turn to this manual to find hands-on methods for collecting and using statistics; learn painless ways to collect data, even with a small staff; incorporating data analysis into management decisions; and use statistics as a publicity and information tool. Also included are sample form and graph presentations (such as forms for data collection, and budget and expenditure charts), and a list of helpful statistics resources beyond those for your own library."