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Public Library Use

ALA Library Fact Sheet Number 6

The American Library Association is often asked to answer questions about public libraries: How are they used, who is using them, and what do people think of them? This ALA Library Fact Sheet is designed to help answer these questions. It contains information from recent studies that document public library use and opinions held by individuals about public libraries.

News stories nationwide -- some of which can be found at <http://www.ala.org/economynews> -- point to the increased library use due to these tough economic times -- as a 2002 report from ALA pointed out it would:


Library Card Holders

In September 2008, during ALA's National Library Card Sign-Up Month, a new Harris Poll from Harris Interactive reported that 68 percent of Americans have a library card, while 76 percent of Americans visited their local library in the past year. In that same time period, 41 percent of Americans visited the web site of their local library. For full details, see our September 23, 2008 news item, New national poll shows library card registration reaches historic high: Three-quarters of library card holders visited their local libraries in past year.

Additional findings:

  • Almost all Americans (92 percent) say they view their local library as an important education resource. Seven of 10 agreed their local library is a pillar of the community (72 percent), a community center (71 percent), a family destination (70 percent) and a cultural center (69 percent).
  • Overall, people are satisfied with their public library. Based on everything they either know or might have heard or read, three of five Americans (59 percent) are extremely or very satisfied with their public library, with 22 percent somewhat satisfied.
  • Among those that have a library card, the satisfaction is even higher -- more than two-thirds (68 percent) say they are extremely or very satisfied with their public library, while 22 percent report being somewhat satisfied. Even those who do not have a library card express satisfaction with their libraries -- two of five (40 percent) are extremely or very satisfied while 21 percent are somewhat satisfied.


State of America's Libraries: A Report from the American Library Association

The 2008 State of America's Libraries: A Report from the American Library Association -- which can be quickly accessed at <http://www.ala.org/2008state> -- was released, as usual, during National Library Week. As detailed in our April 14, 2008 news item, Libraries play a key role in learning and development: Public libraries are engines of economic growth, studies show, libraries provide an excellent return on investment, have a measurable positive impact on the local economy and contribute to the stability, safety and quality of life of their neighborhoods. Specifically:

  • Americans check out more than 2 billion items each year from their public libraries; the average user takes out more than seven books a year
  • Patrons also go to their libraries to borrow DVDs, learn new computer skills, conduct job searches and participate in the activities of local community organizations
  • Average cost to the taxpayer for these services is $31 a year
  • New studies show that the nation's public libraries are engines of economic growth, contributing to local neighborhood and community development through early literacy programs, employment services, and small business information resources

Findings of the 2007 State of America's Libraries: A Report from the American Library Association -- at <http://www.ala.org/2007state> -- appear in our April 16, 2007 news item, New data on U.S. libraries shows almost two billion served: Predicted demise due to Internet fails to materialize.

Findings of the 2006 State of America's Libraries: A Report from the American Library Association (whose shortcut address has yet to be re-set) were reported in our April 4, 2006 news item, New State of America's Libraries report documents positive, expanding role of libraries.


Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study

The newest report in this series, Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2007-2008 -- which can be accessed at shortcut address <http://www.ala.org/plinternetfunding> -- assesses public access to computers, the Internet, and Internet-related services in U.S. public libraries, and the impact of library funding changes on connectivity, technology deployment, and sustainability. The study builds on the longest-running and largest study of Internet connectivity in public libraries, Public Libraries & the Internet, begun in 1994 by John Carlo Bertot and Charles R. McClure. It was released, as usual, during September, Library Card Sign-Up Month.

This report's findings were summarized in our September 2, 2008 news item, Public libraries report double-digit growth in Internet services in one year: Availability of online homework help, e-books, premium Web content jump, including that while the number of Internet computers available to the public climbed for the first time in several years, one in five libraries report there are consistently fewer computers than patrons who wish to use them throughout the day. More pointedly, 73 percent of all libraries (and 83 percent of rural libraries) are the only source of free public access to computers and the Internet in their communities -- and provide instruction for their use, as well:

  • 74 percent of libraries report their staff helps patrons understand and use e-government services, including enrolling in Medicare and applying for unemployment
  • 73.4 percent of libraries provide technology training to library patrons

Findings of the Libraries Connect Communities: Public Library Funding and Technology Access Study 2006-2007 appear in our September 12, 2007 news item, Public libraries are sole source of online employment and education information for millions of Americans: Internet use at public libraries flourishes but technical, financial support lags.


Previous national surveys and polls

In January 2006, KRC Research and Consulting conducted a survey for ALA. The purpose of this survey was to measure the public's usage and perception of public libraries. Findings were detailed in our February 22, 2006 news item, In electronic age, Americans' use of library services grows: National study finds Americans value, see future need for public libraries. View the complete 2006 survey results in 2006 @ your library® Household Survey: Attitudes Toward Public Libraries (PDF) and 2006 @ your library® Household Survey - Detailed Study Slides (PDF).

KRC Research and Consulting conducted a similar survey for ALA in March 2002. Findings were detailed in our April 15, 2002 news item, Library usage up in wake of recession: New studies highlight use, value of libraries as Americans celebrate National Library Week. View the complete 2002 survey results in @ your library: Attitudes Toward Public Libraries Survey (PDF).


Usage Reported By Libraries

The most current federal statistics report on public libraries, Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2006 (2008), was published in December of 2008. These reports are presently conducted by the Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) and give the most recent usage statistics as reported by libraries. The 9,208 respondent libraries reported:

Total visits: 1,384,372,000 4.8 per capita
Total circulation: 2,101,533,000 7.3 per capita
Circulation of children's materials: 728,144,000 34.6% of total circulation

See previous editions of the Public Libraries in the United States fiscal year statistics reports for past numbers.


Usage Reported By Households

Public library usage statistics from the October 2002 Current Population Survey Library Supplement were reported in Households Use of Public and Other Types of Libraries: 2002, which was released in January 2007. The survey was conducted October 13-19, 2002. As explained in the report's Introduction: "Respondents to the survey were asked whether anyone in their household had used a public library or bookmobile in the past month. Those that answered 'yes' were asked a series of 17 questions about what particular use was made of the library. Those answering 'no' were asked whether anyone in their household had used a public library or bookmobile in the past year. All respondents were asked questions about accessibility to public libraries, and their use of other types of libraries."

  • Almost one-third of households (31 percent) used a public library (including bookmobiles) in the month preceding the survey. Almost half (48 percent) used a public library in the year preceding the survey.
  • The use of public libraries was higher for households that were closer to a library. In the past year, 52 percent of households less than a mile from a public library used a public library, 50 percent of households 1–2 miles from a public library used a public library, 47 percent of households 3–5 miles from a public library used a public library, 41 percent of households 6–10 miles from a public library used a public library, and one-third (34 percent) of households more than 10 miles from a public library used one.
  • Nationwide, two-thirds of households with children under 18 (66 percent) used a public library in the past year. Sixty-nine percent of households with a high school student and 65 percent of households with a college student used a public library in the past year.
  • Thirty-six percent of households with retired persons used a public library in the past year.
  • More households used a public library in the past month to borrow materials (26 percent) or for enjoyment or hobbies (19 percent) than to get information for personal use (9 percent) or attend a meeting (2 percent).
  • Nine percent of U.S. households used a public library in the past month to use a computer or the Internet.
  • Ten percent of households with job-seekers used a public library in the past month to get information to help find a job.
  • Forty-one percent of households with children under 18, 28 percent of households with any members ages 18 through 64, and 19 percent of households with any members age 65 and older used a public library or bookmobile in the past month to borrow materials.


Usage Reported By Racial/Ethnic Group

The Households Use of Public and Other Types of Libraries: 2002 found that:
  • Among households with children under 18, a larger percentage of Black and Asian households (25 percent and 26 percent respectively) use a public library in the past month for a school assignment than did white or Hispanic households (22 percent and 20 percent respectively)
  • A smaller proportion of white, non-Hispanic households (8 percent) than Black, non- Hispanic households (13 percent), Hispanic households (12 percent), Asian/Pacific Islander households (11 percent) or mixed households (12 percent) used a public library in the past month to use a computer or the Internet (table 22).

NOTE: This greater use of computers at public libraries by minorities than by whites may reflect the greater availability of computers in White and Asian households. A recent NCES study reported that "[Among American school children,] White and Asians are more likely to use computers at home than are Blacks, Hispanics, and American Indians." (DeBell, M., and Chapman, C. [2006]. Computer and Internet Use by Students in 2003 [NCES 2006-065]. U.S. Department of Education. Washington, DC: National Center for Education Statistics.)

Unpublished statistics concerning library use by persons of different racial/ethnic groups based on data from the survey described above were included in "Using Public Libraries: What Makes a Difference?" in the November 1997 issue of American Libraries. The following table is taken from that article.

White Black Hispanic Asian/Pacific Island American Indian/Native Alaskan other
Used in last month 44% 45% 41% 53% 46% 51%
Used in last year 65% 63% 58% 72% 65% 66%


NOTE: Previous versions of this fact sheet can be accessed via the Internet Archive Wayback Machine using the original URL <http://www.ala.org/library/fact6.html>. And this URL still works as a "shortcut" link to this web page.


Last updated: February 2009


For more information on this or other fact sheets, contact the ALA Library Reference Desk by telephone: 800-545-2433, extension 2153; fax: 312-280-3255; e-mail: library@ala.org; or regular mail: ALA Library, American Library Association, 50 East Huron Street, Chicago, IL 60611-2795.



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