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Date:     August 12, 2009
To:          RCPL Board of Trustees
From:    G. Chapman, Library Director
RE:          Computer use statistics

Date:      July 29, 2009

To:           Greta Chapman

From:     Jason Walker, Library Supervisor

RE:           Computer Usage statistics

 

Summary:  Public computer use statistics have declined at the downtown library through the first two quarters of 2009.  While the trend seems to be negative, it is an indicator of how people access the library’s services differently.  There are several indicators that demonstrate that overall use of the library’s online services is not declining:

 

·         We can now track patrons’ use of the downtown wireless network; the first statistics for this use will be available for July.  Early indicators show that between 50 and 60 laptop users access the library’s system per day.

o   Digital devices (PDAs, telephones, etc.) used by patrons, especially younger people, do not require use of the library’s public computers or wireless network in order to access library services.

·         Much of the decreased public computer use is has been registered in the downtown youth services area.

o   During the time of the downtown decrease, the North library has had a three-fold increase in use.

o   The YMCA has purchased computers for use at their after school program held in the Methodist Church; this would further decrease use in the public library computers

·         We are also tracking and monitoring downtime of the public access computers as it impacts overall use. 

o   During the first few weeks of tracking, it was identified that we had up to 4 computers down for several hours at a time

o   With enhanced tracking of the downtime,  a more proactive repair response is possible; this has resulted in zero computer downtime during the last two weeks in July.

 

 

The Library Services group and Website Committee will continue to monitor and track the statistics and overall use of the library’s online services. Full statistics on the public’s use of the wireless network will be incorporated into the library’s statistical tracking sheet, beginning with the third quarter of 2009.

 

 

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