The National Center for Education Statistics within the Department of Education collects data through a required Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) system of surveys on U.S. colleges, universities, and technical and vocational institutions. The IPEDS survey collection currently includes an Academic Library Component survey gathering information on collections, services, and expenditures for all academic libraries that meet the eligibility criteria. It is a freely available and comprehensive resource typically used by academic libraries across the country to justify new hires, funding, and purchases of library resources to help support their students, faculty, and staff.

On March 4, 2024, the U.S. Department of Education released a Comment Request on changes to the IPEDS 2024-25 Through 2026-27 and included a statement on the planned elimination of the Academic Libraries (AL) component survey beginning with the 2025–26 administration.

Join us for a panel and discussion covering:

• How IPEDS data is currently used by academic libraries,
• The impact of the proposed elimination of an academic libraries component survey,
• Suggestions for improvements to the quality, utility, and clarity of information collected in the Academic Library Component survey, and
• How to submit a comment on the proposal to eliminate the AL component.

We invite you to leave comments on the Federal Register notice regarding the future of IPEDS. The comment period ends on May 3, 2024.

Background information on the Academic Library Component survey is also available here: http://qualitymetricsllc.com/what-should-imls-do-to-support-the-academic-library-statistics-effort/

Panelists: Sara Goek, PhD, Project Manager, Data and Research, Association of College & Research Libraries; Martha Kyrillidou, PhD, MDe, MLS, QualityMetrics LLC; and Catherine Stollar Peters, PhD, Associate Director of Assessment and Data Analysis, SUNY Office of Library and Information Services

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