Happy New Year!

I hope this email finds you all well and excited about the new year ahead. It is time once again to submit your Public Library Annual Report. The deadline to complete and submit your FY16 Public Library Annual Report is April 3, 2017.

The Public Library Annual Report provides statistics on the status of public libraries in Maine and is part of a larger Public Library Survey (PLS) that is administered by the Institute of Museum and Library Services. Data is collected from approximately 263 public libraries in Maine and 9,000 public libraries nationally with the mission to collect and publish accurate, consistent and comparable public library statistics on an annual basis from each state. The data is intended for use on the local, state and federal levels.

You should have received a letter which contains all the information you need to get started, including your username and password and an instruction sheet that walks you through the login process. All usernames and passwords remain the same as last year.

Start by visiting LibPAS (Library Performance Assessment System)
https://me.countingopinions.com/

2016 Instructions
http://www.maine.gov/msl/libs/statistics/annual/index.shtml

As usual, reminder emails will be posted on MeLibs and MeInfo listservs around the end of January and February, in mid-March, and one week before the April 3rd  deadline.

Please keep in mind it is the sole responsibility of each library to ensure that the annual report has been accurately and completely submitted by the April 3rd deadline. This also applies to any follow-up information that is requested. Prompt replies to requests for follow-up information is very much appreciated. Visit http://www.maine.gov/msl/about/commission/rule.htm  for information on the MLC Rules Regarding Responsibilities of Public Libraries.

Please do not hesitate to contact me if you have questions or need help interpreting, reporting or submitting your data. I am more than happy to assist you in any way I can.

The Maine State Library sincerely appreciate the work and dedication it takes to collect and report accurate data.

Thank you,
Jenny


Jenny Melvin
State Data Coordinator
Maine State Library
145 Harlow Street
Bangor, ME 04401
207-947-8336 ext. 116
1-800-427-8336