Division of Library Development

New York's Libraries:
How They STACK UP!

New York's libraries
are good for the
ECONOMY

Libraries as: Economic Engines | Information Suppliers | Valued Destinations | Home to a Vibrant & Sizable Profession

This information is also available as a printable brochure in .PDF.

• Estimated annual New York State library expenditures: $1.9 billion

(Does not include nonpublic school library expenditures)

• Estimated annual U.S. library expenditures: $15 billion

New York State's libraries account for about 12.5% of the $15 billion spent annually by libraries nationwide.

• State Aid to New York State's public library systems: $80 million

• Estimated value of services provided by New York State's public library systems: $1 billion

For every $1 of State Aid that New York State's public library systems receive, public library users receive approximately $13 in services.

• For every $1 spent in temporary Federal Library Services and Technology Act (LSTA) funds, the New York Online Virtual Electronic Library (NOVELNY) provides $35 in NOVELNY information resources.

• NOVELNY saves libraries more than $87 million through centralized licensing.

• NOVELNY, available to all New Yorkers, contains approximately 6,000 information resources. New Yorkers can access magazines, newspapers, journals, photos, maps and more via the NOVELNY databases.

• Public libraries:

• Academic libraries:

• School libraries:

• Institution Libraries:

• New York State Library:

(Does not include over 1000 special libraries)

• More than 27 million reference questions are asked by customers each year in New York State's public libraries.

• More than 12,570 public computers connected to the Internet are available in New York State's public libraries.

New York's libraries hold more than 245 million volumes statewide — that's more than 12 items for each person living in New York State.

• Public library volumes:

  ($50 avg. cost of book)

• Academic library volumes:

  ($62 avg. cost of academic book)

• School library volumes:

  ($21 avg. cost of juvenile book)

At an average price of $50 per book, the statewide library book inventory is worth about $12 billion.

• Public libraries in New York circulate 143.6 million items per year.
• Academic libraries in New York circulate 11.3 million items per year.

New York State's academic and public libraries circulate 155 million items per year.

• Registered public library users:

• Population of New York State:

More than 50% of New Yorkers are registered public library users.

• New York State public library visits:

• New York State professional sports attendance:

(Based on regular season ticket sales)

11 times more people visit New York State's public libraries each year than attend New York State's professional baseball, basketball, football and hockey games.

• Public libraries in New York State:

• Wal-Marts in New York State:

• Volumes in New York State libraries:

• Vehicles registered in New York State:

New York has 20 times more library volumes than registered cars, trucks, motorcycles and mopeds.

• Total number of librarians in New York State:

Librarians in New York State deliver nearly 26 million hours of service each year.
(12,790 x 40 hours per week x 52 weeks)