ALA Report: 'State of American Libraries’

Although ongoing budget cuts to school library programs have put a severe strain on the ability to provide them with adequate staffing and resources, media centers are still busy and thriving, according to the first “State of America’s Libraries” report, released April 4 by the American Library Association (ALA).

Students made 1.5 billion visits to school libraries during the 2005–2006 school year, the report found, while more than 135 million adults visited U.S. public libraries last year. “I’m not surprised how busy these [school] libraries are,” says Linda Williams, president of the American Association of School Librarians (AASL). “Teachers are there with their classes to do research.”

ALA’s report also examined Americans’ perceptions of and use of public libraries. While most of those surveyed agree that they’re underfunded and need more support, 89 percent say they’re satisfied with their libraries. In fact, 62 percent of adults have library cards, and the circulation of materials has climbed every year since 1990. Public demand for technology is also increasing, with libraries across the country having achieved nearly universal connectivity in the last decade. A copy of the full report can be found at www.ala.org/2006state.