Data Publications | Reports using the public library data

Documentation of data collection from LIBGIS/FSCS/PLS

Type of file Year File type File name File size Notes
Documentation FY 2020 PDF 2020_pls_data_file_documentation-2.pdf 5.9 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year2020; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
August 2022
Note the publication below. It has the same title as this one but different date and size. Usually in such cases, I can find a reason for the newer publication given in this newer edition. Also, there is yet another with a different file name. Instead of “documentation-2” the file name has “documentation-4.” It is the same size as this one. I did not include this one but have it if I figure out how it is different from the other two.
Documentation FY 2020 PDF 2020_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.4 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year2020; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
July 2022
Note the publication above. It has the same title as this one but a different date and size. I have not found how they differ so include both.
Documentation FY 2019 PDF 2019_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.9 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2019; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
May 2021
Documentation FY 2019 PDFpls_users_guide_fy2019.pdf 2.4 MB FY 2019 Public Libraries Survey: PLS Web Portal User’s Guide, Version 5.0
January 2020
Documentation FY 2018 PDF 2018_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 3 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2018; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
July 2020
Documentation FY 2017 PDF fy2017_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2017; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
May 2019
Documentation FY 2016 PDF fy2016_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 7 MB Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2016; Data File Documentation and User’s Guide
April 2018
Data Element Definitions FY 2016 PDF pls_defs_fy2016.pdf 1.4 MB 19 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2015 PDF fy2015_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.0 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2015
September 2017
See pp. 15-17 for a discussion of Geocoding these data.
Data Element Definitions FY 2015 PDF pls_defs_fy2015.pdf 1.5 MB 19 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2014 PDF fy2014_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.3 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2014
July 2016
Data Element Definitions FY 2014 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2014.pdf 320 KB 23 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2013 PDF fy2013_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.2 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2013
August 2015
Data Element Definitions FY 2013 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2013.pdf 87 KB 25 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2012 PDF fy2012_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.0 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2012
July 2014
Data Element Definitions FY 2012 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2012.pdf 786KB 22 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2011 PDF fy2011_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 2.0 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2011
June 2013
Data Element Definitions FY 2011 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2011.pdf 124KB 22 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2010 PDF fy2010_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 3.9 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2010
June 2012
Data Element Definitions FY 2010 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2010.pdf 202KB 23 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2009 PDF fy2009_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 3.9 MB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2009
July 2011
Data Element Definitions FY 2009 PDF PLS_Defs_FY2009.pdf 126KB 22 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2008 PDF fy2008_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 658 KB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2008
May 2010
Data Element Definitions FY 2008 PDF PLS_Defs_FY08.pdf 168KB 21 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
User note FY 2007 PDF fy2008_pls_report_usernote.pdf 207KB USER NOTE: PUBLIC LIBRARIES SURVEY REPORT For Fiscal Year 2008
One page.
Documentation FY 2007 PDF fy2007_pls_database_documentation.pdf 653 KB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey; Fiscal Year 2007
April 2009
Data Element Definitions FY 2007 PDF PLS_Defs_FY07.pdf 152KB 21 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
User note FY 2007 PDF fy2007_pls_report_usernote.pdf 8KB USER NOTE: PUBLIC LIBRARIES SURVEY REPORT For Fiscal Year 2007
One page.
Documentation FY 2006 PDF fy2006_pls_data_file_documentation.pdf 1,616 KB Data File Documentation; Public Libraries Survey 2006
November 2008
Data Element Definitions FY 2006 PDF PLS_Defs_FY06.pdf 171KB 21 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2005 PDF fy2005_pls_database_documentation.pdf 353KB Data File, Public Use: Public Libraries Survey: Fiscal Year 2005
NCES2008-303
Data Element Definitions FY 2005 PDF PLS_Defs_FY05.pdf 167KB 21 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2004 PDF pls2004doc.pdf
fy2004_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 538 KB
997 KB		 Data File, Public Use: Public Libraries Survey: Fiscal Year 2004
NCES 2006-347
Data Element Definitions FY 2004 PDF PLS_Defs_FY04.pdf 72KB 26 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2003 PDF pls2003doc.pdf
fy2003_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 667 KB
1.4 MB		 Data File, Public Use: Public Libraries Survey: Fiscal Year 2003
NCES 2005-362
Data Element Definitions FY 2003 PDF PLS_Defs_FY03.pdf 372KB 22 pages. Detailed definitions for variables in the three series.
Documentation FY 2002 PDF pls2002bdoc.pdf
fy2002_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 348 KB
589 KB		 Data File, Public Use: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2002 (Revised)
NCES 2004-327
Documentation FY 2001 PDF pls2001bdoc.pdf
fy2001_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 1.3 MB Data File, Public Use: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2001 (Revised)
NCES 2003-398
Documentation FY 2000 PDF pls2000doc.pdf
fy2000_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 1.3 MB Public-Use Data File: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 2000
NCES 2002-341
Documentation FY 1999 PDF pls1999doc.pdf
fy1999_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 1.3 MB Public-Use Data File: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1999
NCES 2002-376
Documentation FY 1998 PDF pls1998doc.pdf
fy1998_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 434 KB Public-Use Data File: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1998
NCES 2002-386
Documentation FY 1997 PDF pls1997doc.pdf
fy1997_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 222 KB Public-Use Data File: Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1997
NCES 2003-388
Documentation FY 1996 PDF pls1996doc.pdf
fy1996_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 193 KB Data File (Public-Use): Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1996
NCES 2003-391
Documentation FY 1995 PDF pls1995doc.pdf
fy1995_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 197 KB Data File (Public-Use): Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1995
NCES 2003-302
Documentation FY 1994 PDF pls1994doc.pdf
fy1994_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 165 KB Data File (Public-Use): Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1994
NCES 2003-304
Documentation FY 1993 PDF pls1993doc.pdf
fy1993_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 168 KB Data File (Public-Use): Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1993
NCES 2003-306
Documentation FY 1992 ASCII pls1992doc.pdf
fy1992_pls_database_documentation.pdf		 155 KB Data File (Public-Use): Public Libraries Survey, Fiscal Year 1992
NCES 2003-308
Documentation FY 1991 ASCII pls1991doc.txt 105 KB Public Library Data 1991
NCES 2003-308
The documentation includes how to read the data from a 5 1/4″ diskette.
Documentation FY 1990 ASCII pls1990doc.txt 77 KB Data Base Documentation
Public libraries data, 1990
The documentation includes how to read the data from a 5 1/4″ diskette.
Documentation FY 1989 ASCII pls1989doc.txt
Also published as cb2212.pdf		 33 KB Public Libraries Survey, 1989: [United States]
ICPSR 9596, September 1991.
ICPSR 2212, March 2002.
Each says “First ICPSR edition.”
According to the ICPSR citation of the original, it was an NCES Document from 1991.
Documentation FY 1988 PDF pls1988doc.pdf 402 KB Public Libraries Data, 1988 [United States]
ICPSR 2211, March 2002
According to the ICPSR citation of the original, it was an NCES Document from 1988.
Documentation FY 1987 ASCII pls1987doc.pdf 513 KB Public Libraries Data, 1987 [United States]
ICPSR 2210, March 2002
LIBGIS Documentation
Documentation LIBGIS, 1981 PDF cb2279.pdf 323 KB Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) [United States]: Public Library Universe, 1981
ICPSR 2279, March 2002
According to ICPSR’s citation of the NCES publication, the original was published in 1981
Documentation LIBGIS III, FY 1977-1978 PDF cb2209.pdf 1.3 MB Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) [United States]: Public Libraries, Fiscal Year 1977-1978
ICPSR 2209, May 2002
According to ICPSR’s citation of the NCES publication, the original was published in 1978.
Documentation LIBGIS III, Public Library Universe, 1977 PDF cb2207.pdf 442 KB Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) [United States]…Public Library Universe, 1977
ICPSR 2207, March 2002
Documentation LIBGIS I, FY 1974 PDF cb2208.pdf
 1.6 MB Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) [United States]…Public Libraries, Fiscal Year 1974
ICPSR 2208, March 2002
Documentation LIBGIS I, Public Library Universe 1973 PDF cb2206.pdf 1,600 KB Library General Information Survey (LIBGIS) I [United States}:Public Library Universe, 1973
ICPSR 2206, March 2002

January 8, 2023
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