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Annual Reports 2021: Introduction

The Annual Report is a yearly report that public libraries in New York State are required to complete. It is split up into 14 parts. As you move through the annual report, please click on the appropriate tab at the top of this guide for resources and help. Resources will often include actual answers to some of your questions.

Getting Started

 

GETTING STARTED...

Bibliostat CollectConnect is the 'portal' that you enter your annual report information into. The Division of Library Development typically unlocks this around the middle of January. I will send out an email notifying libraries when it is officially open for data entry.

Annual Report information is due in Bibliostat CollectConnect by Tuesday, February 15th at 8am. It is important that you review and check the information, comparing to last year's report if needed. When you are done, email your consultant. We will do a minor review and contact you with any questions before submitting to the state. 

  • BOARD APPROVAL/ASSURANCE - Plan ahead to have your report done and reviewed by your library board, typically at your February meeting. Your board's date of approval will be noted in question 12.41. It's ok if your board officially approves your report after it's been submitted to NCLS because we would not have submitted it to DLD yet. Please contact us if you have any changes.
  • MASTER AR SPREADSHEET: NCLS has created a single Master AR Spreadsheet that has all the answers we typically provide. This is information from SIRSI, technology, financials, and more that NCLS provides but in ONE location. 
  • EDIT CHECKS: Please provide notes for any figures that have a large increase or decrease and make sure that all notes are clear. If the note is for an edit check, make sure that the note answers the question being asked by the edit check.
  • OUTLINE OF MAJOR CHANGES. 2021 Outline of Major Changes is now available.
  • DLD's ANNUAL REPORT INSTRUCTIONS: 2021 Instructions are now available.
  • LAST YEAR'S REPORTS: Your report from last year can both help answer questions and check for accuracy.
  • BLANK AR COPY: Many libraries are seeking to put their answers down somewhere while we wait. While we don't have an updated version of the 2021 Annual Report, we do have a blank 2020 copy where you can put your answers for now. 

UPDATES

                                            

Updates to come soon for:

2/11/22: Revised Part 3 Instructions. DLD finally provided instructions for part 3 and fixed random Edit Check glitches.

2/3/22: New Open Labs, Extended Deadline. Two new open labs have been added for February 10th. The new deadline is now Tuesday, February 22nd.

1/27/22: Part 3, Programming Questions is an email I've sent that has plenty of further detail about DLD's programming section. This includes information on Asyncrhonous programming and the new Children's age brackets.

1/25/22: Bibliostat is open! An email went out that Bibliostat is open and ready for data input. Additionally, there are several Open Labs from January 27th to February 1st. Sign up for one here.

1/21/22: Outline of Major Changes has been released and an email replying to the 1/14/22 email sent. 

1/14/22: Annual Report: It's almost here email has been sent out. Not much new information, simply more consideration for preparing.We expect Bibliostat (the portal to enter new information) to open by 1/21.

12/27/21: Changes to Part 3 & Due Date email has been sent to libraries. The guide has been updated to reflect both. The tentative due date for the Annual Report is February 15th, 2022. There are many changes to part 3 however, Libraries are not required or expected to report this data in 2021 but the questions will appear on the 2021 annual report

 

8/24/21: With the Annual Report coming in January, you can start preparing for it now! This includes the following:

  • Print out a copy of last year's report. This can be for checking answers.
  • Get Trustee contact information for Part 10. Remember, this information is for library trustees moving forward, starting February 1st. 
  • Gather financial data for Parts 11-14. If you rely on others for this information, give them a heads up. Look at parts 11 and 12 of the guide to help you start organizing the information.
  • Start preparing your programming data for part 3.
  • The state has released but not finalized Covid related questions. They have not provided numbering for these questions either. For now, take a look at the questions and think about how you would answer these questions.