Population factors to consider

HAPLR uses the FSCS service area populations for each library, not the unduplicated population.

The Federal State Cooperative Service has no choice but to ask states to make some rather arbitrary assignments of population. The population served often extends beyond the population of the community that established it and provides its initial support. Library service territories, when added together in some states, exceed the total population. Hence, the FSCS reports both service area populations as reported by the state and unduplicated service populations which arbitrarily re-assign population.

Depending on the demographic makeup of the state, there will be inconsistencies in population assignment. Consolidated county and regional library systems are more prevalent in some states and regions than in others, skewing some population data.

Nearly half of the HAPLR Index is sensitive to population as reported in the FSCS data, so this fact should be considered when interpreting the results..