Reorienting Collection Analysis - Cost-Effective Item-Level Analysis and Machine Learning in Public Libraries

Aug 5, 2026

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Public library funding must be used efficiently to serve local communities, especially in rural settings. This project, running from January 2023, evaluates item-level cost-effectiveness for circulating materials in Lakeville, Indiana, using library Integrated Library System data, custom Python scripting, and machine learning. The work estimates savings for patrons and for the community and examines whether item traits affect cost-effectiveness. It also outlines scripts, initial findings, challenges, and next steps.

LanguageEnglish

CategoryResearch & Report

FormatPDF

Pages6

Reading Time15 min

AccessFree to download

PART I: THE MONEY SAVED

Measuring patron savings using item cost and checkout frequency

Estimating community savings using operating expenses and item counts

PART II: METHODOLOGY AND DATA ANALYSIS

Harvesting item-level data from the ILS

Using data to identify drivers of cost-effectiveness

PUBLIC LIBRARIES LEADING THE WAY Reorienting Collection Analysis Cost-Effective Item-Level Analysis and Machine Learning in Public Libraries Ross Hanney ABSTRACT In public libraries, especially those in rural settings, it is important that every dime of library funding is leveraged effectively into serving the community. As part of ayear-long project beginning in January 2023, we are evaluating item-level cost-effectiveness for each circulating item housed at the public library in Lakeville, Indiana. Through the use of big(ish) data, some custom Python scripting, and machine learning algorithms we hope to answer: How much money is saved by library patrons through their use of the public library's physical collection? How much money is saved by the community through the operation of a public library based on the use of the circulating collection? And are there any non-obvious traits which make an item or title a more or less cost-effective circulating asset? In this column, I will describe the scripts, share initial findings, discuss challenges, and investigate next steps. INTRODUCTION There is so much to be said about the value public libraries bring to the communities they serve. This column is not going to investigate the worth of programs or experiences, the social interactions taking place, the knowledge or education gained by patrons, or the many other benefits that endure because of the existence of public libraries. Instead, this column will discuss the dollars and cents value that public libraries bring to their community using circulating collections. By using data available through the library's Integrated Library System (ILS), I examine how cost-effective each item is throughout any given month, quarter, or year, and what, if anything, makes an item more or less cost effective. About the Community This project focused on a public library branch located in Lakeville, Indiana, one of the ten locations operated by the St. Joe County Public Library system. Lakeville is a rural farming town with a population of 878 people. What Prompted the Work? During the past few years, the St. Joe County Public Library had received some concern from the community regarding the amount of money being used toward library operations. These concerns were spurred by the renovation of the largest location in downtown South Bend, which took two years and cost an estimated $38 million to complete. With the added financial pressure on households brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic and the marked increase in inflation, some patrons were beginning to voice concerns about the financial benefit of public libraries. About the Author Ross Hanney (corresponding author: [r.hanney@sjcpl.org](r.hanney@sjcpl.org)) is Staff Development Coordinator, St. Joe County (Indiana) Public Library. © 2023. INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY AND LIBRARIES | DECEMBER 2023 [https://doi.org/10.5860/ital.v42i4.16987](https://doi.org/10.5860/ital.v42i4.16987) PART I: THE MONEY SAVED With the goal of determining the financial benefits of the library's collection, I took the first step towards devising an effective method to best measure the value of any given item in the library's collection at the branch. The cost of the item and the number of times it was checked out was reviewed. While not a perfect system, this method provides the total amount of money saved by library patrons who check out the material rather than purchase it for themselves. The formula was the following: Money_Saved = Times_Circulated * Item_Cost Table 1 shows how the amount of money saved by patrons, without accounting for operating expenses, was calculated. The INIT CHKOUT and SECD CHKOUT fields relate to the first and second time the data was harvested from the library’s database. The difference of these two variables yields the number of times the item was checked out within a certain time period. In this instance, it was a month. Each of the items above are from a

FAQs

What is the main goal of the reorienting collection analysis project?

To quantify how much money circulating items save for library patrons and for the community, and to identify item traits that influence cost-effectiveness.

How are patron savings calculated in the first part of the method?

Patron savings use Money_Saved = Times_Circulated * Item_Cost, based on each item's cost and the number of checkouts within a time period.

How are community savings estimated beyond patron-level savings?

Community savings subtract an allocation of operating expenses from the patron savings using Money_Saved = (Times_Circulated * Item_Cost) - (Operating_Expenses / Number_of_Items).

Aug 5, 2026

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