Thursday, July 18, 2013

Wisconsin Public Library Materials, 2003-2012

(2012 data is preliminary.)

Observations:  The number of books owned by Wisconsin public libraries
  • peaked in 2006 at 20,144,918 volumes.
  • has remained relatively flat since 2003.
  • is at its lowest point since 2002.
  • [sidebar] grew by 21% during the 1990s.


Observations:
  • Audio materials increased by 44%.
  • Video materials increased by 62%.
  • Consistent, year-by-year increases in both formats.

With periodicals, a longer view is instructive.  (Sidebar:  Did we not count multiple subscriptions of a individual title prior to 1994?  And if so, would such a change have accounted for the bulk of a 11,556 increase?)

BadgerLink was introduced in July 1998.

Related posts:
Wisconsin public libraries:  Municipal and county revenue, 2003-2012 . (7/17/2013)
Wisconsin public libraries: Total number of programs and program attendance, 2003-2012.  (7/17/2013)
Wisconsin public library circulation, 2003-2012. (7/17/2013)

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