8561.0 - Public Libraries, Australia, 1999-2000  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 27/06/2001   
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MEDIA RELEASE

June 27, 2001
Embargoed: 11:30 AM (AEST)
83/2001

99,400,000 visits to public libraries

There were 99.4 million visits to the National Library and State and local government libraries in the year to June 2000, according to the publication, Public Libraries, Australia, 1999-2000, released by the Australian Bureau of Statistics today.

Total holding stock of local government libraries was 39.4 million books and other library materials, of which 36.4 million items were available as lending stock.

Some 93.3 million visits were made to local government libraries, resulting in loans of 162 million books and other materials. This represented 4.9 visits per head of population for the year, and 1.7 loans per visit. Each item was borrowed on average four times in the year.

At the end of June 2000, local government libraries contained 5,220 personal computers for public use. There were 2,832 Internet workstations - an increase of 242% since the end of June 1997. This represented an average of 1.9 Internet workstations per local government library location.

The National Library and State libraries held 14.9 million books and other library materials for non-lending purposes at the end of June 2000. There were 6.1 million visits to the National Library and State libraries, an increase of 25% since 1996-97.

The total income of local government libraries was $478 million, of which 95% was government funding. Labour costs of $244 million comprised 53% of the total expenses of local government libraries. The total income of the National Library and State libraries was $227 million, of which 84% was government funding.

A total of 9,592 people were employed at local government libraries at the end of June 2000, of which 2,422 were librarians. During June 2000, 4,493 volunteers worked seven hours each for the month in local government libraries. A further 2,248 people were employed at the National Library and State libraries.

Further details can be found in Public Libraries, Australia 1999-2000 (cat. No. 8561.0) available from ABS bookshops. The main features of this publication are available on this site. If you wish to purchase a copy of this publication contact the ABS Bookshop in your capital city.