8561.0 - Public Libraries, Australia, 2003-04  
ARCHIVED ISSUE Released at 11:30 AM (CANBERRA TIME) 29/04/2005   
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INTRODUCTION

This publication presents results from an Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) survey of public library operations. The survey was conducted in respect of the 2003-04 financial year.


The 2003-04 Public Libraries Survey is the third ABS survey of public libraries. Previous collections were conducted in respect of 1999-2000 and 1996-97 financial years.



MORE INFORMATION ON ABS SERVICE INDUSTRIES STATISTICS

Information about ABS activities in the field of service industries statistics is available from the Service Industries Statistics theme page.



COMMENTS

The ABS welcomes comments and suggestions from users regarding future surveys of Service Industries. These comments should be addressed to the Director, Service Industries Business Statistics Centre, Australian Bureau of Statistics, GPO Box 2796Y, Melbourne, Vic. 3001.

ROUNDING

Where figures have been rounded, discrepancies may occur between the sum of component items and the total.

INQUIRIES

For further information about these and related statistics, contact the National Information and Referral Service on 1300 135 070 or William Milne on Melbourne (03) 9615 7862.



INTRODUCTION

This publication presents results of the 2003-04 Public Libraries Survey. This survey was conducted by the ABS to provide a detailed measure of the performance, structure and activity of public libraries operating in Australia. The main focus of the survey was on understanding aspects of public library operations such as: the composition of income and funding received; details of expenses incurred; characteristics of employment; and activities of public libraries.


The scope of the 2003-04 Public Libraries Survey was local government libraries, national, state and territory libraries and archival service organisations which were mainly engaged in acquiring, collecting, organising, conserving and loaning library materials such as books, manuscripts, etc. The survey excluded libraries with restricted access such as those operated by educational institutions (universities and schools), and libraries operated privately by businesses and organisations for internal reference purposes.


Chapter 1 contains summary information about local government libraries, national, state and territory libraries and archival service organisations. Chapter 2 presents statistics on public libraries operated by local government authorities or state/territory government departments, Chapter 3 presents statistics on national, state and territory public libraries, while Chapter 4 presents statistics on national, state and territory archival services organisations.


For ease of reading public libraries operated by local government authorities or individual state/territory government departments are referred to as local government libraries; national, state and territory libraries are referred to as state libraries; and national, state and territory archival organisations are referred to as state archives.



SUMMARY

At the end of June 2004, there were 548 public library and archive organisations operating through 1,754 locations. These organisations had a total of 13,282 employees at the end of June 2004. They also had 6,853 persons working as volunteers during the month of June 2004.


During 2003-04, these 548 organisations received $948m in income with the majority (92.7% or $879.2m) sourced from government funding. Expenses incurred for the same period were $959.8m, with labour costs representing just over half (51.5%) of all expenses.


During 2003-04, there were 105 million visits to local government, national and state libraries, representing an average of five visits per head of population.

SUMMARY OF OPERATIONS
Local government libraries
National and state libraries
National and state archives
Total
Organisations at end June
    no.
532
8
8
548
Locations at end June
    no.
1,716
17
21
1,754
Employees at end June
    no.
10,606
1,865
811
13,282
Volunteers during June
    no.
6,315
416
122
6,853
Volunteer hours during June
    no.
55,749
3,307
1,886
60,942
Income
Government funding(a)
    $m
521.9
259.4
97.9
879.2
Services to clients
    $m
18.3
12.0
10.4
40.8
Other
    $m
5.0
22.4
0.7
28.1
Total
    $m
545.2
293.7
109.1
948.0
Expenses
Labour costs
    $m
340.8
106.9
46.3
494.0
Other
    $m
204.4
200.7
60.7
465.8
Total
    $m
545.2
307.6
107.0
959.8
Visits to library locations(b)
    '000
99,622
5,048
. .
104,670
Library holdings at end June
Lending stock
    '000
38,984.5
. .
. .
38,984.5
Non-lending stock
    '000
2,511.8
11,276.3
. .
13,788.2
Total
    '000
41,496.3
11,276.3
. .
52,772.7
. . not applicable
(a) Excludes capital funding.
(b) Reported for year ended 30 June.