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July 8, 2008
Latest Academic Library Statistics (2006)
The NCES (National Center for Education Statistics) has released this today:
Academic Libraries: 2006 First Look
Selected Findings
Services
• During Fiscal year (FY) 2006, there were 144.1 million circulation transactions from academic
libraries’ general collection
• Academic libraries loaned 10.8 million documents to other libraries, and borrowed 10.3 million
documents from other libraries in FY 2006. In addition to the interlibrary loans,
academic libraries received 1.2 million documents from commercial services in FY 2006.
• During a typical week in the fall of 2006, of the 3,600 academic libraries in the United States
31 were open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week
• During a typical week in the fall of 2006, approximately 1.1 million academic library reference
transactions were conducted, including computer searches.
Collections
• At the end of FY 2006, there were 221 academic libraries that held 1 million or more books,
serial backfiles, and other paper materials, including government documents.
• The nation’s 3,600 academic libraries held 1.0 billion books; serial backfiles; and other paper
materials, including government documents at the end of FY 2006.
• In FY 2006, academic libraries added 22.2 million books, serial backfiles, and other paper
materials, including government documents.
Staff
• Academic libraries report 93,600 full-time equivalent (FTE) staff working in academic libraries
during the fall of 2006.
• Academic libraries reported 26,500 FTE librarians in during the fall of 2006. Librarians
accounted for 28 percent of the total number of FTE staff working in academic libraries during
the fall of 2006.
Expenditures
• Academic libraries’ expenditures totaled $6.2 billion during FY 2006.
• During FY 2006, academic libraries spent $3.1 billion on salaries and wages, representing
50 percent of total library expenditures.
• Academic libraries spent $2.4 billion on information resources during FY 2006.
• Academic libraries spent $94 million for electronic books, serials backfiles, and other materials in FY 2006. Expenditures for electronic current serial subscriptions were $692 million.
• During FY 2006, academic libraries spent $106.3 million for bibliographic utilities, networks,
and consortia.
Electronic Services
• In the fall 2006, some 72 percent of academic libraries provided library reference service by e-mail or the Web.
• Fifty percent of academic libraries reported providing technology to assist patrons with disabilities in the fall 2006.
Information Literacy
• During FY 2006, some 48 percent of academic libraries reported that their postsecondary institution defined information literacy or the information-literate student.
• During FY 2006, there were 34 percent of academic libraries that reported their postsecondary
institution had incorporated information literacy into its mission.
Full Report (PDF; 1.1 MB)
Supplemental Table (PDF; 169 KB)
Always useful to get the NCES stats stuff!
Stephen
Posted by stephen at July 8, 2008 10:13 PM
Comments
"During a typical week in the fall of 2006, of the 3,600 academic libraries in the United States
were open 24 hours per day, 7 days per week"
It sounds like there is something missing here. Something indicating what proportion of the academic libraries keep these hours?
Posted by: Bruce at July 9, 2008 1:10 PM