This session will look back at six years of Arkansas Public Library Survey Data and explore trends and stories that emerge. Attendees will then be encouraged to discover 'new ground' by reviewing other interdisciplinary public data sets that provide insight into potential services, strategies, and emerging needs.
At the end of the session, participants will:
Be oriented to the Public Library Survey as a federal-state cooperative assessment mechanism Understand key trends and patterns in a six-year retrospective of AR PLS Data Be aware of relevant public data sets and the benefits of their consideration in planning library services Gain insight into areas of emerging needs and use patterns This session aligns with the programmatic theme of the 2026 ARLA Conference by encouraging and empowering Arkansas Librarians to discover new trails through the exploration of quantitative public data sets, by establishing waypoints in our previous travels, and equipping them with an understanding of what could be on the horizon to better develop services and strategies and find new trails.
Programming Track: Buffalo National River Trail: Leadership & Management
Strategic Planning / Data Driven Decisions / Change Management Exploring uncharted terrain — Examining emerging trends, technologies, and community needs that require creativity, curiosity, and courage. Reading the landscape — Exploring how library services intersect with and respond to cultural, environmental, and societal shifts.
