Public Libraries in the United States Statistical trends, 1990-2003*
Circulation
| Year | Total | Per Capita | Response Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 |
1,394,887,374 |
5.6 |
96.8 |
| 1991 |
1,465,962,402 |
6.1 |
96.1 |
| 1992 |
1,555,360,000 |
6.4 |
97.1 |
| 1993 |
1,585,859,000 |
6.5 |
96.9 |
| 1994 |
1,569,919,000 |
6.4 |
97.0 |
| 1995 |
1,609,872,000 |
6.4 |
96.9 |
| 1996 |
1,642,625,000 |
6.5 |
97.6 |
| 1997 |
1,690,203,000 |
6.6 |
97.2 |
| 1998 |
1,701,184,000 |
6.6 |
97.5 |
| 1999 |
1,693,416,000 |
6.4 |
97.5 |
| 2000 |
1,713,967,000 |
6.4 |
97.8 |
| 2001 |
1,789,927,000 |
6.5 |
95.8 |
| 2002 |
1,897,874,000 |
6.8 |
97.7 |
| 2003 |
1,965,000,000 |
7.0 |
96.8 |
Library Visits
| Year | Total | Per Capita | Response Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 |
506,863,503 |
3.13 |
68.1 |
| 1991 |
675,708,393 |
3.70 |
76.2 |
| 1992 |
773,236,000 |
4.00 |
81.6 |
| 1993 |
810,778,000 |
4.00 |
83.7 |
| 1994 |
821,686,000 |
4.10 |
83.9 |
| 1995 |
981,566,000 |
3.90 |
83.8 |
| 1996 |
1,013,798,000 |
4.00 |
86.3 |
| 1997 |
1,057,757,000 |
4.10 |
86.4 |
| 1998 |
1,088,034,000 |
4.20 |
87.9 |
| 1999 |
1,119,733,000 |
4.30 |
89.1 |
| 2000 |
1,146,284,000 |
4.30 |
90.1 |
| 2001 |
1,187,723,000 |
4.30 |
89.5 |
| 2002 |
1,244,348,000 |
4.50 |
92.2 |
| 2003 |
1,248,175,000 |
4.60 |
92.1 |
Reference Transactions
| Year | Total | Per Capita | Response Rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1990 |
201,414,485 |
0.9 |
80.7 |
| 1991 |
222,023,860 |
1.0 |
82.0 |
| 1992 |
227,989,000 |
1.0 |
86.4 |
| 1993 |
242,691,000 |
1.1 |
86.1 |
| 1994 |
257,690,000 |
1.1 |
87.9 |
| 1995 |
278,204,000 |
1.1 |
87.2 |
| 1996 |
284,513,000 |
1.1 |
88.5 |
| 1997 |
287,173,000 |
1.1 |
89.8 |
| 1998 |
292,056,000 |
1.1 |
88.7 |
| 1999 |
294,568,000 |
1.1 |
89.5 |
| 2000 |
291,476,000 |
1.1 |
90.1 |
| 2001 |
296,211,000 |
1.1 |
89.1 |
| 2002 |
301,757,000 |
1.1 |
90.9 |
| 2003 |
302,338,000 |
1.1 |
91.1 |
* Note: Totals for 1990-94 may be underestimated due to nonresponse. Since 1995, items with response rates below 100 percent include imputations for nonresponse.
Source: Public Libraries in the United States XXXX. National Center for Education Statistics
Complied by ALA Office for Research and Statistics.
Contact the Office for Research & Statistics for questions about content on this page.
