State-by-State Public Library Statistics Including E-Book Availability Numbers, New from ALA's Office for Research & Statistics
If you're in need of some basic library stats (especially for electronic and Internet resources) for 46 out of 50 states and DC, you'll find them here.
The following information is part of the Libraries Connect Communities study.
The 2009–2010 PLFTAS national survey sampled and received responses from all states and the District of Columbia. The survey did not, however, receive enough responses from all states for analysis purposes. The following state tables provide selected summary survey data for the states for which there were adequate and representative responses (46 in all, plus the District of Columbia). States for which data could not be fully analyzed are Alabama, California, Michigan, and New Hampshire.
The survey data were weighted to enable state projections. The weighting used was based on two variables:
1. Metropolitan status of libraries in the state (urban, suburban and rural).
2. Total number of libraries in the state (the data presented in the tables are statewide estimates)
Here's an Idea of Some of the Top-Level Categories Included in Each Report
+ Expenditures
+ Connectivity
+ Internet Services (library outlet/branch data)
Some of the stats under this heading include:
U.S. Average: Public libraries providing access to ebooks is 65.9%
A Few Comparisons:
% of Libraries Providing E-Books In:
Florida--86.9%
Hawaii--100%
Illinois--46%
New York--71%
Ohio--83%
Oregon--70.8%
Washington--48.6
Note: Since e-books are listed in the Internet category we're assuming these are books downloaded off the Internet from services like OverDrive, Safari, NetLibrary, Books 24x7, ebrary, and others. We're trying to find out how these numbers and ones to come will count books downloaded once to a Kindle, iPad, nook, or other device and then loaned to many users.
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