US Library Data Archive
NCES/IMLS Raw Public Library files
Introduction
This page provides links to the raw Public Library data, documentation, summary analysis of those public libraries from the US National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), reports on specific public library subjects and methodological studies, as well has historic publications about the formation of the public library data collection effort. The data from fiscal years 1987-2005 were collected through the Federal State Cooperative System for Public Library data (FSCS). The data made available here have been gathered from a number of sources. Early years of the data were not available the NCES Web site and were collected from original diskettes where possible. 1987-1989 came from the Interuniversity for Political and Social Research (ICPSR).
ICPSR also proved have archival copies of other library data, including early public library data collected through the Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS). These data are also on this site with documentation. A spreadsheet lists these data with the ICPSR numbering.
In addition to archiving the data and their documentation, ICSPR also made available programs to read the ASCII files from the early years. These programs were written in SAS and SPSS, two widely used statistical utilities. These programs are included here in the documentation for the three years they are available.
A number of the publications here are the results of scans and conversion of the orginals into pdf files. We are all particularly indebted to Barbara Holton of NCES for these fugitive documents. Too many bore a handwritten note: "Only copy."
There is a longitudinal recompilation of these data on this site for the years from 1987-2007.
Names have files have been often been changed for the sake of consistency and to avoid multiple files with the same names.
| Type of file | Year | File type | File name | File size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| FSCS Data | |||||
| Data | FY 2007 | zipped ASCII | pls2007a_ASCII.zip | 2,485 KB | Contains public library survey (pupld07a), state summary data (pusum07a), and the library outlet (branch) file (puout07a). Filename extensions vary. |
| Data | FY 2006 | zipped ASCII | pls2006a_ASCII.zip | 2,485 KB | Contains public library survey (pupld06a), state summary data (pusum06a), and the library outlet (branch) file (puout06a). Filename extensions vary. |
| Data | FY 2005 | zipped ASCII | pls2005a_ASCII.zip | 2,451 KB | Contains public library survey (pupld05a), state summary data (pusum05a), and the library outlet (branch) file (puout05a). Filename extensions vary. |
| Data | FY 2004 | zipped ASCII | pls2004a_ASCII.zip | 2,406 KB | Contains public library survey (pupld04a), state summary data (pusum04a), and the library outlet (branch) file (puout04a). Filename extensions vary. |
| Data | FY 2004 | zipped Access | pls2004a_Access.zip | 2,475 KB | File names follow the same conventions as in FY 2004. |
| Data | FY 2003 | zipped ASCII | pls2003a_ASCII.zip | 2,279 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2003 | zipped Access | pls2003a_Access.zip | 2,397 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2002 | zipped ASCII | pls2002b_ASCII.zip | 2,192 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2002 | zipped Access | pls2002b_Access.zip | 2,453 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2001 | zipped ASCII | pls2001b_ASCII.zip | 2,147 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2001 | zipped Access | pls2001b_Access.zip | 2,430 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2000 | zipped ASCII | pls2000_ASCII.zip | 2,117 KB | " |
| Data | FY 2000 | zipped Access | pls2000_Access.zip | 2,397 KB | " |
| Codebook | FY 2000 | zipped | pls2000.zip | 4,119 KB | Contains the complete FY 2000 data and documentation with executables. |
| Data | FY 1999 | zipped ASCII | pls1999_ASCII.zip | 2,169 KB | File names follow the same conventions as in FY 2004. |
| Data | FY 1999 | zipped Access | pls1999_Access.zip | 2,310 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1998 | zipped ASCII | pls1998_ASCII.zip | 2,052 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1998 | zipped Access | pls1998_Access.zip | 2,403 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1997 | zipped ASCII | pls1997_ASCII.zip | 2,002 KB | In addition to those listed above, this file contains Administrative Entities Only for state libraries (PUAOSL97) and a state library outlet file (PUSLO97). |
| Data | FY 1997 | zipped Access | pls1997_Access.zip | 2,227 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1996 | zipped ASCII | pls1996_ASCII.zip | 1,940 KB | File names follow the same conventions used in FY 2004 and FY 1997. |
| Data | FY 1996 | zipped Access | pls1996_Access.zip | 2,176 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1995 | zipped ASCII | pls1995_ASCII.zip | 1,904 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1995 | zipped Access | pls1995_Access.zip | 2,156 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1994 | zipped ASCII | pls1994_ASCII.zip | 1,855 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1994 | zipped Access | pls1994_Access.zip | 2,045 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1993 | zipped ASCII | pls1993_ASCII.zip | 1,853 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1993 | zipped Access | pls1993_Access.zip | 2,137 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1992 | zipped ASCII | pls1992_ASCII.zip | 1,837 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1992 | zipped Access | pls1992_Access.zip | 2,077 KB | " |
| Data | FY 1991 | ASCII | pls1991universe.txt contains the data file pls1991summary.txt has state summary data |
3,827 KB 25 KB |
The original file was PUBLIB91.EXE, a self-extracting file. It is located in the PublicLibs\Data directory. It will execute on Windows machines. The various files this program creates are filed where they belong, that is, data are with data and documentation with documentation. |
| Data | FY 1990 | ASCII | pls1990universe.txt contains the data file pls1990summary.txt has state summary data |
4,165 KB 25 KB |
The original diskette contained PUBLIB90.EXE, a self-extracting file. It is located in the PublicLibs\Data directory. It will execute on Windows machines but will only extract PUBLIB90.TXT PUBLIB90.TXT was renamed pls1990universe.txt for this compilation. The diskette also contained CEFSUMM.TXT which was renamed pls1990summary.txt. |
| Data | FY 1989 | ASCII | pls1989universe.txt pls1989summary.txt has state summary data. da2212.txt is the later edition. |
4,318 KB 25 KB |
This copy comes from ICPSR 9596, September 1991. It was also published as ICPSR 2212, March 2002. 9596 was used in PLDF3. By inspection, da2212.txt and pls1989universe.txt (originally da9596i.gz) appear to be the same. The summary file appears not to be available with the later version. |
| Data | FY 1988 | ASCII | pls1988universe.txt | 3,816 KB | 7,910 library records, 45 summary records ICPSR 2211 |
| Data | FY 1987 | ASCII | pls1987universe.txt | 1,839 KB | Summary data for each of the 19 reporting states is found as the first
observation for that state. ICPSR 2210, March 2002 |
| LIBGIS Data | |||||
| Data | 1981 | ASCII | da2279.txt | 1,455 KB | Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) from ICPSR Public Library Universe, 1981 A directory of "main" public libraries. 8,611 cases ICPSR 2279, March 2002 |
| Data | FY 1977-1978 | ASCII | da2209.txt | 1,558 KB | Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) III from ICPSR Public Libraries, FY 1977-1978 ICPSR 2209, May 2002 |
| Data | 1977 | ASCII | da2207.txt | 1,453 KB | Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) III Public Library Universe, 1977 ICPSR 2207, March 2002 |
| Data | FY 1974 | ASCII | da2208.txt | 1,143 KB | Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) I from ICPSR Public Libraries, FY 1974 1,460 cases. Brief data on public libraries, branches, and some state libraries. ICPSR 2208, March 2002 |
| Data | 1973 | ASCII | da2206.txt | 1,521 KB | Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) I from ICPSR Public Library Universe, 1973 8,996 cases. Stratified random sample. ICPSR 2206, March 2002 |
| Type of file | Year | File type | File name | File size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Documentation | FY 2007 | pls2007doc.pdf | 1,616 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2006 | pls2006doc.pdf | 1,616 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2005 | pls2005doc.pdf | 353 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2004 | pls2004doc.pdf | 526 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2003 | pls2003doc.pdf | 661 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2002 | pls2002bdoc.pdf | 341 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2001 | pls2001bdoc.pdf | 1,036 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 2000 | pls2000doc.pdf | 1,278 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1999 | pls1999doc.pdf | 1,278 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1998 | pls1998doc.pdf | 434 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1997 | pls1997doc.pdf | 222 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1996 | pls1996doc.pdf | 193 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1995 | pls1995doc.pdf | 193 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1994 | pls1994doc.pdf | 162 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1993 | pls1993doc.pdf | 165 KB | ||
| Documentation | FY 1992 | ASCII | pls1992.doc.pdf | 152 KB | |
| Documentation | FY 1991 | ASCII | pls1991doc.txt | 105 KB | |
| Documentation | FY 1990 | ASCII | pls1990doc.txt | 77 KB | |
| Documentation | FY 1989 | ASCII | pls1989doc.txt Also published as cb2212.pdf |
33 KB | ICPSR 9596, September 1991. ICPSR 2212, March 2002. Each says "First ICPSR edition." |
| Documentation | FY 1988 | ASCII | pls1988doc.pdf | 402 KB | ICPSR 2211, March 2002 |
| Documentation | FY 1987 | ASCII | pls1987doc.pdf | 513 KB | ICPSR 2210, March 2002 |
| LIBGIS Documentation | |||||
| Documentation | LIBGIS, 1981 | cb2279.pdf | 1,306 KB | ICPSR 2279, March 2002 | |
| Documentation | LIBGIS III, FY 1977-1978 | cb2209.pdf SAS program to read the data—sa2209.txt SPSS program to read the data—sp2209.txt |
1,306 KB | ICPSR 2209, May 2002 | |
| Documentation | LIBGIS III, Public Library Universe, 1977 | cb2207.pdf SAS program to read the data—sa2207.txt SPSS program to read the data—sp2207.txt |
442 KB | ICPSR 2207, March 2002 | |
| Documentation | LIBGIS I, FY 1974 | cb2208.pdf SAS program to read the data—sa2208.txt SPSS program to read the data—sp2208.txt |
1,600 KB | ICPSR 2208, March 2002 | |
| Documentation | LIBGIS I, Public Library Universe 1973 | cb2206.pdf SAS program to read the data—sa2206.txt SPSS program to read the data—sp2206.txt |
1,600 KB | ICPSR 2208, March 2002 |
| Type of file | Year | File type | File name | File size | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Summary report | FY 2005 | PLS2006.pdf | 1,616 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab/First Look | FY 2005 | EDTabPLS2005.pdf Supplementary Tables EDTabPLS2005_s.pdf |
1,616 KB 608 KB 431 KB |
||
| E.D. Tab | FY 2004 | EDTabPLS2004.pdf | 1,055 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 2003 | EDTabPLS2003.pdf | 1,066 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 2002 | EDTabPLS2002.pdf | 1,075 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 2001 | EDTabPLS2001.pdf | 507 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 2000 | EDTabPLS2000.pdf | 447 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1999 | EDTabPLS1999.pdf | 437 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1998 | EDTabPLS1998.pdf | 431 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1997 | EDTabPLS1997.pdf | 610 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1996 | EDTabPLS1996.pdf | 1,125 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1995 | EDTabPLS1995.pdf | 968 KB | ||
| E.D. Tab | FY 1994 | EDTabPLS1994.pdf | 548 KB | ||
| {state rank order tables for FY 1994) | FY 1994 | NCLIS 1994 public library state rankings | 1,467 KB | No title page. Handwritten note on first page: "Final / NCLIS Mailout / 4-17-97 (received in mail) / (second copy)" Provenance is not clear but the typeface resembles that in NCES publications. The state rank order tables did not appear in the FY 1994 E.D. Tabs (above) but began appearing in FY 1995 and after. | |
| E.D. Tab | FY 1993 | ASCII | EDTabPLS1993.txt | 59 KB | |
| {state rank order tables for FY 1993) | FY 1993 | Public Libraries in the United States, FY 1993: Selected Data and Rankings, by state | 6,077 KB | First page of this pdf file is a fax transmittal sheet dated "6-25-97" to Keith Lance from Elaine Kroe. The state rank order tables are now published in the E.D. Tabs but did not appear there before the FY 1995 report. | |
| E.D. Tab | FY 1992 | ASCII | EDTabPLS1992.txt | 90 KB | |
| {state rank order tables for 1991) | 1991 | State Rankings of Selected Public Library Data, 1991 | 2,441 KB | The state rank order tables are now published in the E.D. Tabs but did not appear there before the FY 1995 report. However, the data for 1991 are not comparable to those for 1992 or later. | |
| Historical Report | 1982 | Statistics of Public Libraries, 1982 | 223 KB | Four page summary statistics. Published in 1986 8,597 public libraries in 1982 | |
| 1977-1978 | Statistics of Public Libraries, 1977-1978 | 6,930 KB | Equivalent to a current E.D. Tab or First Look 8,456 public libraries in 1978 |
