Updated Virtual Programming Guidelines for FY2020 Annual Report

This message concerning the annual report required of public libraries was sent to NHAIS-L subscribers earlier this month. It is reproduced here, with some editing for updated information on April 17, for easy reference.

The NH State Annual Report currently asks for number of programs and program attendance by category (children, young adults, and other). Many libraries are changing the nature of programs offered during the current situation. It will be important for you to keep virtual program counts separate from physical programs.  There are now three ways to count programming:

  *   Physical Programming - Count physical programs for the months that they were available as normal.

  *   Virtual Programs - I will add a question to the report for virtual programs.  Count each instance of a live-streamed virtual program as one (1) virtual program.  Count the audience while the program is live as attendees of the virtual program.  Again, these numbers only apply to live-streamed programs via online meeting applications such as Zoom, Facetime, or Jitsi.

  *   Downloadable Programs - I will add a question to the report for downloadable programs.  If you post a recording of a program to YouTube, Facebook, etc., count that as one (1) downloadable program and include the views for that video in downloadable program views.

Again, for now, keep virtual and downloadable programming separate from physical programming.  I can't stress that enough.  Record all of your views in a spreadsheet, as you might get a chance to use those numbers in the many surveys State Data Coordinators will put out and other researchers will be asking for participation outside the Public Library Survey (national), when we start asking how your library served the public during the lockdown.

Tim Rohe

Reference Librarian/State Data Coordinator

New Hampshire State Library

603-271-2060

603-271-2144 (Reference Desk)

Timothy.Rohe@dncr.nh.gov