I recognise that most NSLA libraries do not fulfil the functions of a public library (that is all of them except Libraries ACT and Libraries Tasmania) and therefore do not have loans or fines periods as they are largely non-lending. However, they do have library management systems that do not appear on the relevant layers. I found myself wanting to know this morning which ILS a particular state library used, thought 'oh! Library Map can tell me!' and went to have a look but as it happens Library Map could not tell me :( Is there scope to include this data, or is it restricted to bona fide public libraries?
More of an idea than an issue, but it might be useful to know how old the library building is and/or how long since the last refurbishment. I imagine being able to visualise library infrastructure across the country could be useful in higher level planning.
And while, we're on the subject, the age of the library service itself could be interesting to know as well.
Another idea would be to visualise what public libraries are staffed by qualified librarians VS library techs VS neither, as well as how many FTE per library.
When I click on the 800m radius around a given library, up pops the library's name and address. Clicking on the exact location dot doesn't do this - and when the map is zoomed out to any real degree the dot is the only clickable thing, such that the pop up doesn't work.
Knowing what libraries collect what data about their clients, would be helpful in benchmarking privacy standards. i.e. Is having an email address mandatory to sign up? Do libraries store information about whether a member identifies at Aborignal or Torres Strait Islander....
Around 14 mobile libraries, all bar one of which are in Queensland, are included in public_library_locations.csv. Mobile library stopping points might be a useful feature where the data exists, but are probably not appropriate for a static locations view. What should be done with this data?
All relevant data remains in library_services_information.csv (and is the first item in that list), but only the name and the boundary data appears in boundaries.topo.json.
Norfolk Island library has an annual fee. So do (most? all?) Mechanics Institutes, and also there are some subscription libraries like the Atheneum in Melbourne which is not on the map. Are these their own category?
Geelong Regional Library Corporation now includes libraries in Colac and Apollo Bay plus mobile library services in Colac Otway Shire, after that council voted to leave Corangamite Regional Library Corporation and join GRLC: https://www.grlc.vic.gov.au/colacotwayshire
Warrnambool Library is now an independent entity run by that council in conjunction with the local TAFE, while CRLC manages the remaining libraries in Corangamite and Moyne shires and will be wound up at the end of the 2021-22 financial year: https://www.corangamite.vic.gov.au/Council/Have-Your-Say/Library-survey
The relevant boundaries will need to be redrawn. Warrnambool Library runs on Spydus and has a 3 week borrowing period. Their website makes no mention of fines.
Most libraries have home delivery for housebound people, but some rural libraries offer free deliver for people a certain distance from the library as well. Could be useful.
Merging changes from library_services.csv directly into the topoJSON file is the most likely workflow needed: once initial data mistakes settle, boundary changes will be unusual (e.g. demergers or mergers of library networks).
TODO as part of this:
titlecase all library names inlibrary_services_information.csv so we can match directly
rename short_name to just name in the CSV so we don't have a superfluous attribute
get rid of the empty attribute at the end that is also taking up space for no reason (presumably this is a blank column in the CSV)
create Action to automatically update the topoJSON when there is a successful PR (see #18)