FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 16, 2007

IMLS Press Contacts
202-653-4632
Jeannine Mjoseth, jmjoseth@imls.gov
Mamie Bittner, mbittner@imls.gov

IMLS Publishes FY 06 State Library Report

WASHINGTON, DC--The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) issued its first library statistics report on state library agencies, on state library agencies in the 50 states and the District of Columbia for state fiscal year (FY) 2006. The State Library Agency Report for FY 2006 includes a wide array of information on topics such as libraries’ Internet access, services, collections, staff, and revenue, and is used by state and federal policymakers, researchers, and others.

“The report is an important snapshot of state libraries that ultimately guides decision-makers’ efforts to improve libraries’ internal functions and outreach to the public,” said Anne-Imelda M. Radice, IMLS Director.

The Census Bureau, under contract to the Department of Education’s National Center for Education Statistics (NCES), collected the data from the State Library Agencies (StLA) Survey. From 1994 though 2007, NCES administered the State Library Agency Survey. Effective October 1, 2007, the President’s 2008 budget included funds for IMLS to administer both the State Library Agency Survey and the Public Library Survey in order to strengthen federal library policy efforts and enhance the Institute’s national research capacity on domestic and international library trends.

The report covers seven main topics:

1. Governance, Allied Operations, Electronic Services, and Internet Access—describes the organizational location of state library agencies within state governments, related operations that are usually beyond the scope of state library agencies, and statewide electronic services, information, and networks.
2. Services to Libraries and Cooperatives—identifies activities and programs that support public, academic, school, and special libraries, and library cooperatives.
3. Outlets and User Groups, Public Service Hours, and Collections—describes the availability of state library locations and bookmobiles to provide services to the public or specific constituencies, public service hours during a typical week, and state library holdings of materials in various formats.
4. Service Transactions—characterizes library use, such as circulation and reference transactions.
5. Staff—reviews functions performed by employees of state library agencies.
6. Revenue—identifies various sources of income.
7. Expenditures—describe how state library funds are spent.

The survey’s 100 percent response rate results from the cooperative effort between the Chief Officers of State Library Agencies (COSLA), the U.S. National Commission on Libraries and Information Science (NCLIS), NCES, and the Census Bureau. For more information on library statistics, visit http://www.imls.gov/statistics.

The report is available in PDF format at http://harvester.census.gov/imls/pubs/stla/index.asp.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation’s 122,000 libraries and 17,500 museums. The Institute's mission is to create strong libraries and museums that connect people to information and ideas. The Institute works at the national level and in coordination with state and local organizations to sustain heritage, culture, and knowledge; enhance learning and innovation; and support professional development. To learn more about the Institute, please visit www.imls.gov.