1. What dataset will you use for your final report? (title of your dataset, include a link to it and claim it at the URL above).
The dataset that I'm using is BC Public Libraries Statistics 2002-Present from the government of BC Data Catalogue.
2. Describe the dataset. What kind of data does it contain?
With data compiled from 2002 to 2020, this dataset includes a myriad of information about public libraries within British Columbia. Because there is so much data on public libraries, I am going to focus on the top ten largest libraries, which include:
- Fraser Valley Regional Library
- Vancouver Public Library
- Surrey Public Library
- Vancouver Island Regional Library
- Okanagan Regional Library
- Greater Victoria Public Library
- Burnaby Public Library
- Richmond Public Library
- Coquitlam Public Library
- Library System
- Interlibrary Loan - Lending
- Interlibrary Loan - Borrowing
- Core Branch Data
- Branch Facilities Ownership
- Branch Facilities Space/Size
- Branch Facilities Capacity
- Branch Facilities Open Times
- Branch Visits
- Branch Facilities Technology
- Core Input Data
- Core System & Facilities
- Core Registrations
- eResource Data
- Core Collections
- Core Circulation
- Core Visits
- Core Programming
- Core Staffing
- Revenue
- Supplemental Branch Data
- Branch Curbside Service
- Supplemental System Data
- Supplemental System & Facilities
- Supplemental Registrations
- Supplemental Collections
- Supplemental Circulation
- Supplemental Programming
- Supplemental Staffing
- Expenditure
- Expenditure - Electronic Resources
- Expenditure Subtotals
3. Is there anything about your data that you don't understand? (i.e. what a column heading means). How will you find this out?
There are a few header subjects that I am uncertain of, for example, I am not sure what the Grant Population means, but the website offers an excel sheet with detailed information about the questions asked on the 2021 Annual Survey of BC Public Libraries, which I suspect will help me understand some of the information I have questions about. For example, under Grant Population, it says: "Service population used by the Province to calculate annual per Capita Operating grants for public libraries."
What I like the most about them offering this information is that it gives me an overview of the information included in the dataset so that I can try to narrow down my focus.
4. What are some questions you hope to answer with your data? List at least three. (you don't need the answers at this point)
Trying to narrow down the data that I want to use in my report is proving to be tricky and it may take more time. I know that I have decided to focus only on 2020, and so far, I have only kept the data that is italicized under question #2.
The main question that drew me to this dataset was what percentage of residents use library services in each municipality.
But, looking at the dataset, I realize I have a few directions that I could go. First, I am considering comparing the percentage of residents using the library services data with the data from the previous five years, but for this, I worry about having an influx of data. Secondly, I could compare the percentage of residents using the services between each municipality based on their separate populations. Another curiously I have is within the Core Staffing column, particularly the demographics of library staff. I also find myself curious about Children registered in the provincial summer reading club and comparing that to literacy levels in each municipality.
