The 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,” researcher Denise M. Davis analyzes data from the Academic Library Survey administered by the National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), identifying changes in the number of academic libraries, circulation and reserve collections, interlibrary loan transactions and documents received from commercial services, public serve hours, volumes held and added, library staffing, library expenditures, electronic services and information literacy activities.
“The impact of technology and maturation of the Internet as the conduit for information delivery has not reduced the need for library space but, in many respects, has increased that need,” Davis reports. She added that the data indicate greater investments in collections and services. “Even with increased virtual reference and information services, up 52.4 percent from 1998, use of academic libraries rose during the 1998-2008 period.”
“Trends in Academic Libraries, 1998 to 2008” is available as a PDF download. It’s a 46 page document.
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