This document provides guidance on writing an annual report for a school library. It recommends including a narrative overview of the past year's activities, quantitative data like circulation numbers and database usage, and an evaluation of that data showing increases or decreases. The report should be no more than three pages and reflect the library's strengths and weaknesses while proposing solutions. Goals for the next year should align with the school or district's overall goals. Sample annual reports and contact information are also offered to those seeking additional help or examples.

1. Data Mining and Library Reports Andrea Ange, MPA Campbell High School, Litchfield School District

2. NHEMA NHEMA is a professional organization representing school library media professionals and paraprofessionals. We are an affiliate of AASL, The American Association of School Librarians. We provide our members with a forum for the exchange of ideas and with opportunities for professional growth through publications, conferences, and staff development workshops.

3. NHEMA Mission NHEMA'S mission is to ensure that all members of the New Hampshire school community become effective users of ideas and information, and school library media programs are an integral part of the teaching/learning process in every New Hampshire school.

4. What is data mining? data mining Function: noun Date: 1988 The practice of searching through large amounts of computerized data to find useful patterns or trends. "data mining." Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary. 2009. Merriam-Webster Online. 6 May 2009<http://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/data mining>.

5. Why are you here? Are you worried about your library? You should be. What can you do to make yourself more visible? Join committees, keep track of curriculum changes What makes you valuable to an administrator? Your numbers….

6. What can I do? Today’s administrators are not taught how to use libraries in their school administration programs. They do teach administrators how to analyze numbers. So When in Rome….. Record library usage, even if it’s just to use the copier. Track database usage, get information from your publishers. Be prepared to explain your numbers.

7. Your report should not: Be a dry reiteration of facts Lead to false conclusions about your program Make everything look easy Be boring

8. Your Report Should Be narrative Emphasize numerical information Indicate problem areas Propose solutions Be easy to read, no more than three pages Reflect who you are, what you do, and how you do it!

9. How do I write this?

10. What should I include? Your narrative should be an overview of what has happened in the library/media center over the year. Your data body should include: a gate count, circulation totals, database usage, and if you have it, the number of teachers you worked with and how students are using the library/media center.

11. What should I include? cont… Your evaluation of data should indicate an increase or decrease by percentage SWOT – Strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats Think of the SWOT acronym when you are evaluating your data.

12. Closing Narrative Your closing narrative needs to have information about next year’s goals You should have at least two or three goals Your goals should align with your district/schools goals

13. Questions? Included in your packet is a copy of last year’s annual report to my principal My email address is aange@litchfieldsd.org