Library Card Registration Reaches All-Time High

By SLJ Staff -- School Library Journal, 10/2/2008

Public libraries are busier than ever—and now there are numbers that explain why. A new poll from Harris Interactive for the American Library Association (ALA) confirms that in-person visits are up 10 percent, compared with a 2006 ALA survey.

More than two-thirds (76 percent) of Americans visited their local public library in the past year, compared with 65.7 percent two years ago. Online visits to libraries are up even more—with 41 percent of library cardholders visiting their library Web sites in the past year, compared with 23.6 percent in 2006. Some 68 percent of Americans have a library card. This represents a five percent increase since 2006 and the highest amount since ALA began measuring library card usage in 1990.

Who uses public libraries? Certain groups are more likely to have a library card than others—women over men (73 percent versus 62 percent) and Midwesterners (72 percent) and Westerners (71 percent) over Easterners (65 percent) and Southerners (63 percent). The poll also found that 39 percent of cardholders visit the library to borrow books; 12 percent take out CDs, videos or computer software; 10 percent use a computer to see what the library has available; nine percent use reference materials; and eight percent go to the library for Internet access.

How do users view libraries? Almost all Americans (92 percent) polled said they view their local library as an important educational resource. Seven of 10 agreed their local library is a pillar of the community (72 percent), a community center (71 percent), a family destination (70 percent), and a cultural center (69 percent).

The online survey was conducted in the U. S. between August 11-17, 2008, among 2710 adults (aged 18 and over).