Research Libraries: ARL Releases 2011-2012 Statistics

The Association of Research Libraries has released three new statistical reports. Highlights below.

ARL Statistics 2011-2012

From the Association of Research Libraries:

ARL has released the ARL Statistics 2011–2012, the latest in a series of annual publications that describe the collections, staffing, expenditures, and service activities of ARL’s 125 member libraries. Of these, 115 are university libraries (16 in Canada and 99 in the US); the remaining 10 are public, governmental, and nonprofit research libraries (1 in Canada, 9 in the US).
ARL libraries are a relatively small subset of libraries in North America, but they account for a large portion of academic library resources in terms of assets, budgets, and the number of users they serve. The total library expenditures of all 125 member libraries in 2011–2012 was almost $4.5 billion; from that, almost $3.3 billion was spent by the 115 university libraries and more than $1.2 billion by the nonuniversity libraries.

Comparisons

2010-2011

The total library expenditures of all 126 member libraries in 2010-2011 was slightly more than $4.6 billion; of that total, roughly $3.2 billion was spent by the 115 university libraries and more than $1.3 million by the 11 nonuniversity libraries. (Source)

2009-2010

The total library expenditures of all 125 member libraries in 2009–2010 was slightly more than $4.2 billion; of that total, roughly $3.2 billion was spent by the 115 university libraries and slightly more than $990 million by the 10 nonuniversity libraries. (Source)

2008-2009

The total library expenditures of all 124 member libraries in 2008–2009 was slightly more than $4 billion; of that total, roughly $3.1 billion was spent by the 114 university libraries and slightly more than $940 million the 10 nonuniversity libraries. (Source)

ARL has also released statistics for academic health sciences and academic law libraries.

Academic Health Sciences

 61 health sciences libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada.
In 2011–2012, the reporting health sciences libraries held a median of 206,553 volumes, spent a total of $240,179,507, and employed 1,867 FTE staff. Expenditures for materials and staff accounted for the bulk of total expenditures, at approximately 50% and 38% respectively. Respondents reported spending a total of $11,470,533 in one-time resource purchases and $105,414,313 in ongoing resource purchases.

Additional Info/Order Info

Academic Law Libraries

 74 law libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada.
In 2011–2012, the reporting law libraries held a median of 438,034 volumes, spent a total of $224,500,879, and employed 1,957 FTE staff. Expenditures for materials and staff accounted for the bulk of total expenditures, at approximately 49% and 45% respectively. Respondents reported spending a total of $19,074,157 in one-time resource purchases and $83,484,120 in ongoing resource purchases.

See Also: Highlights From Just Released ARL Annual Salary Survey 2012–2013

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