Research Libraries: ARL Releases 2014-2015 Statistics in Three New Reports and Updated Graphs/Data Files

The full text reports discussed below are fee-based. Links to purchase are below along with highlights. Free access to an updated set of graphs and data files are also posted below.
ARL Statistics

124 member libraries in fiscal year 2014–2015. Of these, 114 are university libraries (15 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, expenditures, and the number of users they serve. The total expenditures of all 124 member libraries in 2014–2015 were almost $4.6 billion; of that, approximately $3.4 billion was spent by the 114 university libraries and more than $1.2 billion by the nonuniversity libraries.
Spending for ongoing resources, which includes print and electronic journals, continues to skyrocket, showing a 521% increase since 1986. Over the same period, total expenditures have increased 197% and salary expenditures have increased 152%. All the data and graphs in the Statistical Trends series are available on the ARL website as open access downloads.

Report Full Text Report Purchase Info
Highlights URL
Statistical Trends (Free to Access)

• ARL University Research Library Investments 2014-15 (PDF), (XLS)
• ARL Non-University Research Library Investments 2014-15 (PDF),(XLS)
• Service Trends in ARL Libraries 1991-2015 (PDF), (XLS)
• Supply and Demand in ARL Libraries 1986-2015 (PDF), (XLS)
• Expenditure Trends in ARL Libraries 1986-2015 (PDF), (XLS)
• Resources per Student in ARL University Libraries 1986-2015 (PDF), (XLS)
• Ongoing Resources vs Total Materials Expenditures – Yearly Increases in Average Expenditures 1993-2015 (PDF), (XLS)
• Total Enrollment at ARL Universities, 1968-2015 (PDF), (XLS)

ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2014–2015 Published

59 health sciences libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada.

In fiscal year 2014–2015, the reporting health sciences libraries held a median of 186,049 volumes, spent a total of $235,354,367, and employed 1,645 FTE staff. Expenditures for materials and staff accounted for the bulk of total expenditures, at approximately 56% and 35% respectively. Respondents reported spending a total of $7,679,692 in one-time resource purchases and $121,666,759 in ongoing resource purchases.

Full Text Report Report Purchase Info
Highlights URL
ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2014–2015

74 law libraries at ARL member institutions in the US and Canada.
In fiscal year 2014–2015, the reporting law libraries held a median of 461,436 volumes, spent a total of $217,487,754, and employed 1,770 FTE staff. Expenditures for materials and staff accounted for the bulk of total expenditures, at approximately 47% and 45% respectively. Respondents reported spending a total of $15,633,813 in one-time resource purchases and $82,161,233 in ongoing resource purchases.

Full Text Report Report Purchase Info
Highlights URL

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