Deadline extended to January 14, 2022
All US public library directors are invited to complete this new survey to help us better understand public library staff roles, hiring and retention practices, and equity, diversity, and inclusion work. The survey was developed by PLA's Measurement, Evaluation, and Assessment Committee in response to field-wide discussions and demand for actionable data about evolving staff roles and diversity and inclusion staffing efforts.
Five reasons why your library should complete the survey:
- Library leaders need up-to-date and accurate information about staffing and diversity.
- Contribute to powerful, actionable, and inspirational results for library staff across the country that can help to answer pressing questions such as:
- What are libraries doing to recruit and retain diverse staff?
- What are libraries paying directors and new librarians?
- What types of staff roles exist in US public libraries?
- The result will provide nationally representative data to inform and engage elected officials, the media, and funders to increase awareness of and support for library workers. PLA will share the results in a freely and publicly accessible report.
- Your participation helps PLA create tools, resources, and professional development opportunities that are more useful for you in building and advancing equity in your library.
- The 2021 survey data will create a baseline. When this survey is next administered in 2024, we will be able to see how the field has evolved. We will be able to track and share these trends with the profession.
To complete the survey, login to your library's free Benchmark account at librarybenchmark.org. Click on "Surveys" in the menu, and you will see this survey listed under "Open Surveys." All public library directors should have received an invitation with login details; if your library did not or if you have any questions, please contact [email protected]. Please submit your library's responses by January 14, 2022.