Facts About America's Libraries
Did you know?
- 62% of adults in the U.S. have public library cards.
- Americans go to school, public and academic libraries more than twice as often as they go to the movies.
- Reference librarians in the nation's public and academic libraries answer more than seven million questions weekly. Standing single file, the line of questioners would stretch from Boston to San Francisco.
- A 2002 poll conducted for the American Library Association found that 91% of respondents expect libraries to be needed in the future, despite the increased availability of information via the Internet.
- There are more public libraries than McDonald's in the U.S. - a total of 16,220, including branches.
- Americans spend more than three times as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries.
- Americans check out an average of more than six books a year. They spend $25.25 a year for the public library - much less than the average cost of one hardcover book.
- Public libraries are the number one point of online access for people without Internet connections at home, school or work.
- 95% of public libraries provide public access to the Internet.
Sources:
ALA Office for Research & Statistics
ALA Washington Office
Library Research Service, Colorado State Library
