The Latest Cartography for Colorado Library Systems
LRS has combined the boundaries of all Colorado public library systems onto one map using the latest data available…
Sara Wicen
Leveling Up Our Mapping Tools
Introducing the 2025 PLB Expansion Pack! After two years (it’s been two years already?!) of Public Library Blueprints (PLB) posts, we at Library Research Service …
Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection 2024 Fast Facts
Check out the third edition of the Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection Fast Facts report by Library Research Service at LRS.org. The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection (CHNC) lives up to …
Library Research Service Blog Survey
To kick off 2025, Library Research Service (LRS) wants to hear from you! If you have a minute to spare, please take this short survey …
Stories for Library Spaces
Happy holidays, library world! This time of year when we gather with family and friends, which can be both joyful and hectic, feels like an …
The Ins and Outs of Incorporating External Data
In September, we took a hiatus from The Public Library Blueprints to explore the 2023 Public Library Technology Survey Summary Report – an extensive analysis …
Gathering Word Clouds of Language Data
As hubs for diverse communities, our Colorado public libraries are proud to serve people of many different backgrounds, ethnicities, cultures, and nationalities. Newcomers to Colorado …
Public Libraries and Technology: Beyond the Public Library Survey
Discover what library staff are achieving across the nation to grow digital equity!
Welcome to the Tourism Community Library Designation
Read up on the recent changes to the Tourism Community Libraries designation…
A Search Through Local Revenue Sources
Explore the many ways that Colorado public libraries are funded and the factors to consider when working with this data.
Sparking Interest in Summer Reading
Learn how to use sparklines to your advantage while exploring data on summer reading programs across Colorado.
Accessible Survey Design
An accessible survey is key to ensuring the data collected is representative of all the communities a library serves.
Diverging Bar Charts for Connected Collections
As springtime sprouts across Colorado, it’s a fine time to unearth some data on another statewide system that benefits all library users. The interlibrary loan …
A Variety of Outreach Visualizations
Outreach is a hot topic in the library world, and one that the Library Research Service (LRS) has incorporated into the Public Library Annual Report …
Here’s a Hand with Histograms
Hello again, data folks! I’m excited to introduce a type of chart that we haven’t yet touched upon in The Public Library Blueprints – the histogram! Histograms …
Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection 2023 Fast Facts
Check out the second Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection Fast Facts report by Library Research Service at LRS.org! The Colorado Historic Newspapers Collection (CHNC) lives up …
Tracking Changes Through Time
Happy (belated) new year, library world! This time of year I often have to hesitate a moment before writing the date and find myself asking …
Mapping Colorado: Libraries Supporting Their Communities
Happy holidays, data detectives! At Library Research Service (LRS), we’re wrapping up our posts this year by charting libraries that took an extra step for their …
A Mini Post on Small Multiples
Small multiples certainly struck me as a confusing term the first time I heard it, so let’s jump straight into an explanation of what we’ll …
Careful Color Combos for All
One of the first times I gave much thought to what makes color I was playing with a rainbow suncatcher at my grandma’s house. Young …
Accessibility, Equity, Diversity, & Inclusion, Library Research Service