+44 (0) 1273 386849How can Simple Little Library System reports help you deliver a better school library service?
Data doesn’t have to be dull and it’s far more than just numbers on a screen. The right data, presented clearly, helps you prove the value of your library, identify what’s working (and what’s not), and make confident decisions that ensure your library not only survives but thrives.
This post will explore how library reports can help you manage your school resources more effectively. You’ll learn how to use data from reports to improve your collection by understanding student reading and searching habits, as well as how to keep track of your collection with stock take reports.
Read on to discover why these reports are essential for making informed decisions and optimising your library’s resources.
Meet Alice, Dave and Jae, our library people
Alice, a school librarian, is generating an end of year report for the headteacher. She wants to show off the success of last term’s “Don’t judge a book by its cover” promotion. How many books were borrowed? Which year group read the most? Did that giant display of adventure novels actually work?
Dave, a library administrator, is staring at a spreadsheet and wondering why six books are missing in action. He’s about to start chasing down overdue loans, but he’d rather know which ones are actually lost, which ones are just late, and which ones are somewhere under a Year 9’s bed.
And Jae, a form tutor with an eye on the Year 7 prize-giving, is trying to work out who’s borrowed the most books this year so they can hand out a shiny certificate at the end-of-term school assembly.
All three of them turn to the same place – Simple Little Library System (SLLS) reports.
The data you need to manage your school library more effectively
The key to effective library management is having access to quality data. Whether you’re in a school, workplace or community setting, smart decisions start with a clear understanding of how your library is being used. In the past, accessing and collating this information often meant manually digging through records or exporting raw data into spreadsheets.
With SLLS, it’s different. Reports are built in, easy to access, and ready to go. You just choose the type of report you need, apply a few filters, and let the system do the work. Whether you’re planning stock purchases, writing funding applications, or celebrating your readers, SLLS reports are designed to give you exactly what you need, when you need it.
Reports to improve your library collection
Understanding what your readers are borrowing (and what they’re not) is vital. Loan reports, items never loaned reports, and history of clicks on links offer a window into borrowing patterns, helping you shape a collection that meets your readers’ needs. If fantasy novels are flying off the shelves while the poetry books gather dust, that tells you something useful.
These reports allow library managers and administrators to identify popular authors, high-demand titles, and subjects of interest. They also flag items that haven’t been touched, helping you decide what to withdraw or promote. In Alice’s case, this is how she designs reading campaigns, because nothing beats a display shelf emptied by eager readers.
You can even track seasonal trends or sudden spikes in borrowing so you can adjust displays, promotions or stock accordingly. For school libraries, this kind of insight helps ensure the collection supports curriculum goals, encourages wider reading, and aligns with the topics pupils are exploring in class.
Are you curious about what’s hot and what’s not? Item usage reports are brilliant for showing:
- Most and least borrowed books;
- Popular authors and series;
- Areas of the collection that need more attention.
It’s information that’s useful, actionable, and helps you keep your collection relevant and your readers engaged.
The power of reader reports
Reader reports provide deep insight into these engagement levels and reading habits. Whether you’re looking to reward top readers or support reluctant ones, usage data by individual, class, or year group is an incredibly powerful tool.
With SLLS, you can quickly generate reports showing who’s borrowed the most books, who hasn’t borrowed anything recently, or how different year groups engage with the collection. For Jae, this means certificates for Year 7 bookworms. For staff involved in literacy campaigns, it can mean targeted reading support where it’s needed most.
Often the success of a library is measured in terms of how much the online public access catalogue (OPAC) is used. SLLS report features include OPAC usage statistics which provide valuable insights into how users interact with a library’s online catalogue. highlighting frequently searched topics, as well as unsuccessful searches.
This might mean helping people with searching or simply adding more catalogue information to improve discoverability. For example, if people are spelling an author’s name wrong, you can add other versions in the relevant field.
Beyond the classroom or library, this kind of data tells a compelling story. It helps library staff demonstrate impact to headteachers and justify new library-related initiatives with real evidence. Behind every statistic is a reader and when you understand their habits, you can support their learning – and reading for pleasure – journey.
Keep track of library stock with regular stock take reports
Stock take reports are essential for keeping track of your physical resources. They provide a clear overview of what’s where, what’s missing, and what might be lurking behind a radiator. This can reduce user and staff frustration because there’s nothing worse than searching for a book that isn’t there.
SLLS makes stock taking easy. Start with a stock list report arranged by class mark, then check your shelves to verify each item’s presence and condition. You can use a report printout if you wish. You can also use barcode scanners or mobile devices to check each shelf item, marking discrepancies such as missing or damaged stock.
Note: If using scanners, you need a program interface to compare the results with the catalogue records to identify inconsistencies.
With either method, address any issues by updating the records in your system, re-locating misplaced items, and repairing damaged resources. Over time, stock-taking data reveals patterns. You might have books that constantly vanish, items which are always out/in demand, or areas in the collection where loss is unusually high.
Our library administrator, Dave, swears by circulation reports to track what’s on loan, what’s overdue, and what’s possibly gone walkabout. With a breakdown of loans by reader or item, he can send targeted reminders and spot recurring issues (yes, Year 10, we see you). It’s more than admin – it’s intelligence that keeps your school library running smoothly.
Keep costs in check and stock on point:
Good data helps you make better financial or budgetary decisions. The expenditure reports within SLLS’s Finance Module demonstrate how your budget is being used, what you’re spending, when you’re spending your money, and on which resources.
This insight helps identify whether funds are being spent wisely. If you’re renewing subscriptions no one’s using or buying stock that sits untouched, it may be time to reallocate funds. On the flip side, high-use areas can be flagged for further investment to meet growing demand.
SLLS helps you balance your collection and budget with reports showing:
- How much you’ve spent and when
- Which resources are being used
- Where there’s duplication or gaps
You can even filter by subject or classification to see where your strengths and weaknesses lie, avoiding duplicate purchases and keeping your collection fresh and relevant.
Reports are the secret weapon in your library toolkit
Catalogue reports, meanwhile, are key to maintaining a clean and accessible catalogue. They help you catch cataloguing or metadata errors, like mislabelled titles or missing authors, that can frustrate users. A tidy and consistent catalogue means more effective searching, better discoverability, and more satisfied readers.
There will be times when library staff need to advocate for their space, their budget, or their classes. However, when you’ve got hard evidence at your fingertips, your case becomes much stronger.
SLLS reports help you:
- Inspire your readers and colleagues;
- Create stories from library data;
- Flesh out budget requests with real evidence;
- Demonstrate what’s working and what isn’t.
Whether you’re lobbying for more funding, justifying a new resource, or demonstrating your impact to the wider school, you can do so with confidence. Because the numbers speak for themselves, and they tell a story of a vibrant, well-managed, and valued library.
Library reports don’t have to be boring. They can be your secret weapon for running a smarter, more responsive, and more appreciated library. Whether you’re like Alice, Dave, or Jae, SLLS reports give you the tools to make better decisions, reward your readers and shout about your successes.
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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
How do library reports improve school library services?
Reports help school librarians understand borrowing patterns, track reading habits, manage stock, and identify areas needing improvement. They turn raw data into meaningful insights that guide decisions and enhance student engagement.
What types of reports does Simple Little Library System (SLLS) offer?
SLLS offers a wide range of reports including:
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Loan and usage reports
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Stock take and circulation reports
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Reader activity by individual, class, or year
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Expenditure reports
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Catalogue and metadata audits
Each one is designed to support library operations, literacy goals, and budget planning.
Can SLLS reports help improve student reading habits?
Yes. Reader reports can highlight who is borrowing books, how often, and what kinds of books they enjoy. This data helps librarians tailor campaigns, support reluctant readers, and reward regular borrowers.
How do reports help with library stock management?
Stock take and circulation reports help identify missing items, frequently borrowed books, and underused stock. This enables better purchasing decisions, reduces frustration, and keeps your collection relevant.
How can SLLS data support funding applications?
Clear data from SLLS reports allows librarians to demonstrate impact, show return on investment, and justify funding requests with real evidence – such as increases in borrowing, engagement by year group, or resource usage over time.
Is it easy to generate and use reports in SLLS?
Yes. Reports are built into the system, with user-friendly filters and formats. There’s no need to export and analyse spreadsheets manually. You simply choose the report type, apply your filters, and go.
Can SLLS reports help improve the school’s library catalogue?
Absolutely. Catalogue reports help spot errors like missing authors or mislabelled titles. A clean catalogue means better search experiences for pupils and improved discoverability of your resources.
Who can benefit from using SLLS reports?
Everyone involved in the school library – librarians, teaching staff, administrators, and leadership – can benefit. Whether you’re tracking overdue books, analysing reading trends, or planning a prize-giving, SLLS puts the right data at your fingertips.