[Nmtriblibs] FW: Social Wellbeing Calculator prototype open through April 30th

[Guinnee, Eli, DCA]

Hi Library Directors!

You are all likely aware of library value calculators based on circulation and program statistics multiplied by a cost/item.

Libraries in Community Systems<https://lincs.nnyln.org> is the first ever project to leverage massive data sets (library data paired with economic, education, etc data) to create a calculator based on social wellbeing impacts of a library.  A prototype is now available to New Mexico libraries interested in being testers<https://lincs.nnyln.org/calculator-invite> through April 30.

If you sign up<https://lincs.nnyln.org/calculator-invite>, you will be emailed information about the calculator, a link to a video explaining the calculator, a link to submit feedback, and the calculator protoype itself.

Why does this exist?  Traditional library calculators output cost-savings information (eg. "By checking out two books, your patron saved $30 they would have spent on purchasing those books, so the library created $30 of value).  That's great, but it undervalues the true benefits of the great work you all do, which has tremendous societal benefits on things like education, economy, and health.  A social wellbeing calculator does a couple of important things: first, it demonstrates the impact that libraries have on social wellbeing indicators; and second, it can be used as a planning tool to support your unique community needs.

Highly recommended!  Please see more information below...

Eli

From: Margo Gustina mgustina at unm.edu<mailto:mgustina at unm.edu>
Sent: Saturday, April 13, 2024 7:16 AM
Subject: Social Wellbeing Calculator prototype open through April 30th


Libraries in Community Systems<https://lincs.nnyln.org>, a nationwide valuation in terms of community outcomes project. Our primary product will be an online set of calculator tools which a library can use to inform service decisions. We are asking folks working with and in public and tribal libraries to test out prototypes and let us know what they want changed. This test period is open through April 30. Please consider distributing the following email to libraries you serve:

We are excited to release test versions of the following Library Service Value in terms of Social Wellbeing Outcomes calculators:

  *   Economic Diversity

  *   Economic Wellbeing

  *   School Effectiveness

For those interested in testing them out, we have them bundled as one Excel workbook, each with its own tab. In order to get an email with that workbook attached, we've created a page with additional information and agreements: https://lincs.nnyln.org/calculator-invite

We've tried to make an insane amount of data compilation and rigorous analysis into a few simple, easy to use, but informative calculators. If all you do is check out the calculations and see if the results match (or don't) your assumptions and ideas, testing will take you less than 10 minutes, and your survey experience will also be brief. If you want to peer behind the curtain, take a look at our data sources, handling, analysis, documentation and final modeling the testing and survey process will be significantly more involved. Either way, thank you for contributing to the usefulness of this research!

We will close testing for these on April 30 to give us time to create online calculators incorporating what we hear from you, and applied to additional outcomes like Civic and Political Voice, Health Access, Physical and Mental Health, and Environmental Assets. Then we'll be back to you by June 1.

Thank you for your interest in Libraries in Community Systems!
Margo


Margo Gustina
Project Lead, Libraries in Community Systems
mgustina at unm.edu<mailto:mgustina at unm.edu>
Libraries in Community Systems | Northern New York Library Network (nnyln.org)<https://nnyln.org/about/imls-research21-24/>

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