Section H: Library Buildings – Hours and Square Footage

Make sure to consider closures for all reasons when calculating number of hours and weeks open. For example, if your library is normally open for 52 weeks, but was closed for 20 weeks and open for 32 weeks, report 32 on line H02.

H01: TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING FY25 (JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025) AT THE MAIN LIBRARY ONLY. REPORT ACTUAL NUMBER OF HOUR OPEN RATHER THAN SCHEDULED HOURS OPEN: This is the number of annual public service hours for the main library. Include the actual hours open for public service. Minor variations in public service hours need not be included. Extensive hours closed to the public due to natural disasters or other events such as COVID-19 closures or building projects should be subtracted from the total number of hours open. The main library is considered physically closed when the public cannot access the building, regardless of staff access. A building can be physically closed but still offer virtual, Wi-Fi, or “curbside” services outside the building. DO NOT count branches or bookmobiles for this count.

H02: TOTAL NUMBER OF WEEKS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING FY25 (JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025) AT THE MAIN LIBRARY ONLY (ROUND TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER OF WEEKS). REPORT ACTUAL WEEKS OPEN RATHER THAN SCHEDULED WEEKS OPEN: This is the number of weeks during the fiscal year that the main library was open to the public. The count should be based on the number of weeks that the main library was open for half or more of its scheduled service hours. Weeks closed to the public due to natural disasters or other events such COVID-19 closures or building projects should be subtracted from the total number of weeks open. For example, if a library is normally open 52 weeks a year, but is closed for 4 weeks due to natural disaster, COVID 19, renovations, etc. report this as 48 weeks for the fiscal year of the event. The main library is considered physically closed when the public cannot access the building, regardless of staff access. A building can be physically closed but still offer virtual, Wi-Fi, or “curbside” services outside the building. DO NOT count branches or bookmobiles in this count.

Round fractions to the nearest whole number of weeks. If the library was open at least half of its scheduled hours in a given week, round up to the next week. If the library was open less than half of its scheduled hours, round down.

H03: SQUARE FOOTAGE OF MAIN LIBRARY: Report the area on all floors enclosed by the outer walls of the library. Include all areas occupied by the library, including those areas shared with other agencies and areas off-limits to the public. Prefilled and locked by the State Library. Please contact Gary Krob at gary.krob@iowa.gov if the square footage of your main library has changed.

Branches and Bookmobiles

Enter information for each branch or bookmobile on separate lines. Click the “Add Group” button to report multiple branches or bookmobiles. Do not include information for your main library in this section – that is already covered by questions H01-H03.

Make sure to consider closures for all reasons when calculating the answers for H05 and H06. For example, if your branch or bookmobile is normally open for 40 weeks, but was closed for 10 weeks and open for 30 weeks, report 30 on line H06. 

If the Branch or Bookmobile name, address, or phone number has changed since last year, contact Gary Krob at gary.krob@iowa.gov for corrections.

NOTE: Libraries without branches should skip questions H04 to H07 and leave them blank.

H04: BRANCH OR BOOKMOBILE NAME: Report the full name of each branch library or bookmobile.

H05: TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING FY25 (JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025) AT THE BRANCH OR BOOKMOBILE. REPORT ACTUAL NUMBER OF HOURS OPEN RATHER THAN SCHEDULED HOURS OPEN: This is the number of annual public service hours for the branch or bookmobile. Include the actual hours open for public service. Minor variations in public service hours need not be included. Extensive hours closed to the public due to natural disasters or other events should be excluded from the count

H06: TOTAL NUMBER OF WEEKS OPEN TO THE PUBLIC DURING FY25 (JULY 1, 2024 TO JUNE 30, 2025) AT THE BRANCH OR BOOKMOBILE (ROUND TO THE NEAREST WHOLE NUMBER OF WEEKS). REPORT ACTUAL NUMBER OF WEEKS OPEN RATHER THAN SCHEDULED WEEKS OPEN: This is the number of weeks during the year that the branch or bookmobile was open. The count should be based on the number of weeks that branch or bookmobile was open for half or more of its scheduled service hours. Weeks closed to the public due to natural disasters or other events should be subtracted from the total number of weeks open. For example, if a library is normally open 52 weeks a year, but is closed for 4 weeks due to natural disaster, renovations, etc. report this as 48 weeks for the fiscal year of the event.

Round fractions to the nearest whole number of weeks. If the branch or bookmobile were open at least half of its scheduled hours in a given week, round up to the next week. If the branch or bookmobile were open less than half of its scheduled hours, round down.

H07: SQUARE FOOTAGE OF BRANCH LIBRARY (DO NOT REPORT SQUARE FOOTAGE OF BOOKMOBILES): This is the area on all floors enclosed by the outer walls of the branch library. Include all areas occupied by the branch library, including those areas shared with other agencies and areas off-limits to the public. 

Section H Totals

H08: TOTAL NUMBER OF HOURS OPEN ANNUALLY AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AND ALL BRANCHES (H01+H05): Automatically sums H01 and H05 from each repeatable group to determine the total number of hours open at the main library and all branches and bookmobiles. Click the “SAVE” button to calculate the total.

H09: TOTAL NUMBER OF WEEKS OPEN ANNUALLY AT THE MAIN LIBRARY AND ALL BRANCHES (H02+H06): Automatically sums H02 and H06 from each repeatable group to determine the total number of weeks open at the main library and all branches and bookmobiles. Click the “SAVE” button to calculate the total.

H10: TOTAL SQUARE FOOTAGE OF MAIN AND ALL BRANCH LIBRARIES (H03+H07): Sums line H03 and line H07 from each repeatable group to determine total square footage in your library including all branches. Click the “SAVE” button to calculate the total.