Report Shows Increased Need for Libraries on Campuses
By Michael Kelley Aug 24, 2011The need for libraries on college and university campuses has increased, according to a new study released by the American Library Association (ALA) Office for Research and Statistics.
In "Trends in Academic Libraries, 1998 to 2008," Denise M. Davis analyzes data from the Academic Library Survey administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES).
Some highlights from the report:
The total number of academic libraries reporting grew 6.9 percent in 2008 from 1998.
Total library staff reported decreased slightly (‐1.6 percent) but some staff categories saw significant change:
- Librarians increased 10.1 percent
- Other professional staff increased 57.5 percent
- Other paid staff decreased ‐5.8 percent
- Student assistants decreased ‐11.9 percent
Total expenditures for academic libraries grew 48.5 percent, with salaries and wages rising 30.6 percent and information resources 134.9 percent. However, salaries and wages as a percentage of all expenditures declined ‐5.9 percent during the 10‐year period.
Circulation of academic library general collections declined ‐20.9 percent in 2008 from 1998, while reserve collection use grew at 2.7 percent.
Interlibrary loans to and from libraries grew, with loans of returnable materials provided to other libraries increasing 54.0 percent and loans received increasing 62.9 percent during the 10‐year period
Libraries providing 40‐59 public service hours increased 20.2 percent (116 institutions), followed by a 65 percent increase for libraries open 168 hours (24 hours, 7 days per week), and a 91.5 percent increase for libraries open 120‐167 hours per typical week
Overall collection growth (volumes held) in 2008 from 1998 was as follows:
- 20.2 percent increase for books, serial backfiles and other paper materials
- 898.3 percent increase for E‐books
- 9.2 percent increase for microform units
- 244.6 percent increase for current serial subscriptions
- 19.6 percent increase for audiovisual materials
- 92.6 percent increase for electronic reference sources and aggregation services <
