How to Record Attendance for Passive Programs
The following activities I consider part of regular library business and unless they are part of an organized, publicized event (i.e, Lego Club, Adult Coloring Crafternoon, etc), I do not count as a program. {Example: Puzzle table. If you have a designated event where a group of people meet on say Wednesdays at 10 to do puzzles, then you would count it as a single program and count all attendees. If the puzzle table is available all the time, it is a part of the library experience and not counted as a program}
Coloring Pages
Activities sheets (dot to dot, mazes, etc) {If used/created for a specific event or week like SLP or Children’s Book Week you could possibly count as a single program and attendance would be number of sheets used.}
Games
Jigsaw Puzzles
Legos & blocks
Learning toys
Puppets & Puppet Stage
Libray Displays (Displays are generally considered part of the Library experience. However, if the display requires interaction with the patron, ie., writing your favorite book on a leaf, etc. then you might count it as a single program with attendance counted as all participants.)
Guessing Jars— This one is tricky–I have found several ways libraries interpret attendance here. You should decide how you will count for your library and be consistent in reporting.
Attendance scenario #1–Count each new jar as a specific program and the attendance is the number of guesses in the jar.
Attendance scenario #2–Call the program “Guessing Jars” and count it as a single program and the attendance is the total number of guesses.
Attendance scenario #3–Call the program “Guessing Jar” and count it as a single (Yearly, semester, SLP) program and total the guesses from all jars and divide by the number of jars to get the average. Record the average as the attendance.
Polls/Voting for Your Favorite Something–Each separate poll is could be considered a program (or by a specific time period) and attendance is counted as all votes (could be in library or online).
Bookmark Design Contest/Scavenger Hunt, etc.–Events like these count as a single program and attendance is a total of all participants. (These activities may occur in or out of the building, but are considered legitimate library events. )
Crafts–(Most libraries follow this standard) Each new craft is considered a program and attendance is considered how many did the craft.
Science or Craft clubs/classes–If a group of people assemble at a specific time to work on projects, share ideas, learn from one another, this is considered a program. Generally, it is counted by program and attendance. (8 weekly meetings=8 programs, individual attendance is counted at each program) However, if a handful of people are just knitting and chatting in the library, that is not considered a program. [This may be an opportunity–if you don’t have a knitting class, your future teacher might be sitting in your library. It never hurts to ask.]
Craft totes/Kits for Library Use (Makey Makey, etc)–This is often considered one program (might be counted quarterly or by event SLP, Book Week–you decide) and attendance is counted by number of times kit is used.
Machines (Cricut, typewriter, Kindle, Leap-Pad, 3-D Printer)(Should be recorded for circulation as Check-outs but generally not as a program statistic)
Although you may be the only person working in the library, there may come at some point when other library staff will have to count attendance (absence, retirement, etc). Please write down your procedure for recording attendance, it will help you be consistent and assist others in maintaining your program statistics in the future.
Again, there is no science as to how passive program attendance is counted. I wish that I had a hard and fast rule to share with you. You are the best judgement of how your patrons use your library. However, if you ever want to talk it out, don’t hesitate to call Patty Collins at 800-362-2642. I am happy to work through it with you and help you in any way possible.