ACTION REQUIRED: The deadline to complete the census is Friday, April 18th, 2025.
RAILS announced on Monday, March 17th, 2025 that their School Library Census has begun. This census will collect data from school libraries, both public and private, to allow RAILS to better support school libraries.
You can find the RAILS announcement here along with links to instructions and the form to be completed.
The census does ask for information about your collection and PrairieCat can assist you by supplying the needed statistics! Below, I have included that portion of the census with information on how to collect the data you need.
If you have other questions about how to complete the census (that are not PrairieCat-specific), please contact RAILS Data Analyst Janette Derucki.
School Library Collection
| Does your library have an automated catalog? |
Yes |
| What automated catalog platform or integrated library system do you use? |
Innovative’s Sierra
IF your library also uses another vendor’s ILS for circulation (for example, Follett), list this also. The form may not allow multiple answers, in that case choose “Other” and list both in the box provided.
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| Is your library’s collection accessible to students outside the building? |
Yes or No |
| Is your library’s collection accessible and viewable by the public? |
Yes or No |
| Does your library conduct an annual inventory? |
Yes or No |
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Average age of your library’s collection (year)
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RAILS wants the average year of publication of materials in your collection.
Log a help desk ticket with PrairieCat to receive this data.
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| Collection Details: |
Enter the number for each category; if none, enter “0” |
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For physical collection data, log a help desk ticket with PrairieCat to receive this data.
For digital collection data, you will need to check the dashboards of your ematerials vendors.
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Print Books
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Print Serial Subscriptions
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eBooks
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Audio Materials (physical)
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Audio Materials (digital)
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Video Materials (physical)
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Video Materials (digital)
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Realia
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Equipment
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Sierra