That the Library Board receive the 2018 1^st Quarter Metrics Report for its information.

Ensuring that HPL is relevant and responsive is one of the Library’s strategic priorities. A key element in advancing this strategic priority is to gather, analyze and interpret our quantitative data.   As the attached spreadsheet illustrates, the 1st Quarter statistical report provides the Library Board with 1^st quarter figures of key metrics along with comparable figures from the same time period in each of the last two years.  These indicators help to demonstrate the nature of customer usage of the Library’s collections, programs and services.

Staff have reviewed the numbers and have the following observations and comments regarding them:

• As of the end of the quarter, the number of Active Library Cardholders stands at 159,314 or over 28% of Hamilton’s population.  Active cardholders refer to the number of cardholders that have used their library card within the 2-year period ending March 31, 2018. 

   

• Digital circulation is up 46,000 items quarter over quarter to 277,635 uses.  Not only is this an increase of 20% compared to the same time last year, it is the highest usage of any quarter over at least the last 2 years.

   

• Digital circulation is led by use of Overdrive e-books and e-audio as well as Press Reader usage for online newspaper and magazine publications.

   

• Digital streaming usage, primarily related to Freegal Streaming, has been trending down over the last two years and has experienced an overall drop of 3.8% compared to the same quarter last year. 

   

• It should be noted that Digital streaming of products other than Freegal such as Hoopla Digital Music, E-audio, and Video along with Lynda.com & Mango products are all seeing increases in usage. Excluding Freegal Streaming, usage of those streaming services increased by over 9,000 uses or over 25% compared to Q1 2017.

   

• Circulation of physical items declined by 4.2% quarter over quarter to 1,285,000.  Most of this can be attributable to the shift and increase in digital product usage.  The Locke branch closure during March has had an impact on physical circulation to an extent, however Westdale has seen a strong increase in physical circulation to make up for most of that.  Overall, there has been a modest decline in total circulation (combined physical and digital) of 14,672 items or 0.9% in Q1 2018 vs Q1 2017.

   

• In-person visits increased by 2% quarter over quarter to 985,306.  Increases are partially attributable to Binbrook & Dundas which re-opened at their permanent locations midway through Q1 2018 but also as a result of strong increases at Central (up more than 10,000 visits vs same time last year), Terryberry, & Freelton. 

   

• With a full quarter of Extended Hours Access to report, Freelton visits were more than double in Q1 2018 (4,071) vs Q1 2017 (1,951) which was prior to the implementation of the pilot project. 

   

• Barton, Red Hill, Terryberry & Westdale are branches that now have an additional day of operation per week.  In-person visits at those branches were up 20%, 1%, 8%, & 6% respectively when compared to the 1^st quarter last year, prior to the new open days.  Westdale usage is based on January and February only so as not to skew the impact based on the increase in visits due to the Locke branch closure in March.  Of these branches, only Westdale recorded an increase in physical circulation which is indicative of the trend to more digital usage and shows that the libraries are valued for more than just their physical collections.  For example, each of these branches had increases in the number of computer sessions during the same time period. 

• There were 67,797 more HPL.ca website visits in Q1 2018 vs Q1 2017 representing an 11.6% increase.  Catalogue visits were also up by 13,807 or 2.8%.

   

• Although the number of programs and program attendance were down in the 1st quarter of 2018 compared to the 1^st quarter of 2017, the number of people attending per program has gone up from 14.7 to 16.7 people per program.  A programming report is planned for the upcoming May Board meeting.

   

• Computer sessions were down slightly and wireless uses were down 15%.  Wireless uses refers to the number of times customers log on to our wireless network.  It should be noted that in Q1 2017 service was improved to allow WiFi access for up to 6 hours continuously before having to logon again.  This extended session length may have been a factor in the decline in the number of sessions quarter over quarter since customers no longer have to re-authenticate as frequently as before.

   

• The number of social media fans continues to trend up, and we're now at 17,752 fans, an increase of 23.7% over Q1 2017.

The Library Board will continue to be provided with quarterly updates of key performance indicators.  It is a means to monitor trends in the use of Library facilities, collections, programs and services and plan for future strategic opportunities and developments.  These performance indicators will continue to evolve as library service evolves.