LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
Libraries have traditionally been known as places which acquire, organise, conserve and lend material such as books, magazines, CDs, DVDs, manuscripts, musical scores, maps or prints. A major part of their role has also been as a conduit to a wide variety of information, a role which is ever expanding as digital technology revolutionises the operations of libraries. Increasingly, libraries provide internet access allowing users to draw information from resources around the world. Many also operate websites which enable people with their own internet access to use the facilities of the library without the need to visit physically.
Like libraries, archives have a role in permanently preserving unique records which have been selected because of their administrative, financial, legal or other information value. The services provided by archives include the description and preservation of archival material as well as the provision of research and reference facilities.
This section provides a statistical overview of aspects of Australia's public libraries. The data are drawn primarily from two ABS data sources: a household survey which collected attendance figures for a range of cultural venues and events for 2009-10; and the 2011 Census of Population and Housing. Some information on archives is also included in this section where available.
LIBRARY ATTENDANCE
The 2009-10 survey of Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events found that some 5.9 million persons, or 34% of the population aged 15 years and over, had visited a national, state or local library in the 12 months prior to interview. Local libraries were more likely to attract females than males with reported attendance rates of 39% and 25% respectively.
ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES, By sex, 2009-10
 | Males | Females | Persons |
|
| Number ('000) |
| Local libraries | 2 129.8 | 3 494.0 | 5 623.8 |
| National and state libraries | 458.5 | 546.5 | 1 005.0 |
| Total who attended(a) | 2 246.9 | 3 610.4 | 5 857.3 |
| | | |
| Attendance rate (%) |
| Local libraries | 24.7 | 39.4 | 32.2 |
| National and state libraries | 5.3 | 6.2 | 5.8 |
| Total who attended(a) | 26.1 | 40.8 | 33.5 |
|
(a) Components do not add to the total as some persons attended both types of libraries.
Source: ABS data available on request, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0)
Attendance rates at libraries differed by age, with those in the 15-17 years and 18-24 years age groups having higher rates of attendance at National and state libraries than any other group. The highest rate of attendance at Local libraries was for persons aged 15-17 years (38%), followed by those aged 35-44 years (36%).
ATTENDANCE AT PUBLIC LIBRARIES, By age, 2009-10
Age group (years) |
| 15-17 | 18-24 | 25-34 | 35-44 | 45-54 | 55-64 | 65-74 | 75 and
over | Total |
|
Number ('000) |
| Local libraries | 329.9 | 611.5 | 939.4 | 1 101.8 | 965.6 | 785.1 | 507.7 | 382.7 | 5 623.8 |
| National and state libraries | 58.8 | 158.9 | 175.0 | 160.0 | 164.0 | 163.1 | 75.6 | 49.6 | 1 005.0 |
| Total who attended(a) | 346.2 | 669.1 | 992.1 | 1 127.8 | 998.8 | 819.2 | 515.0 | 389.2 | 5 857.3 |
|
Attendance rate (%) |
| Local libraries | 38.2 | 28.2 | 30.4 | 35.5 | 32.3 | 31.5 | 32.2 | 32.2 | 32.2 |
| National and state libraries | 6.8 | 7.3 | 5.7 | 5.2 | 5.5 | 6.5 | 4.8 | 4.2 | 5.8 |
| Total who attended(a) | 40.1 | 30.8 | 32.1 | 36.4 | 33.4 | 32.9 | 32.6 | 32.7 | 33.5 |
|
(a) Components do not add to total as some persons attended both types of libraries.
Source: ABS data available on request, Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0)
Of those who visited Public libraries, 5% did so on only one occasion. However, almost half (46%) visited more than 10 times in the 12 months prior to interview and over a quarter visited more than 20 times. Close to one third of persons aged 75 years and over, who visited a public library, went 26 times or more during the 12 month period.
More information about these and other statistics relating to library attendance can be found in the data cubes attached to Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, Australia, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0) on the ABS website.
PUBLIC LIBRARIES
Technology
According to the Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report in 2011-12, there were 9,974 public access Internet terminals provided within Australian public libraries. Since 2007-08, the number of public access internet terminals has risen by 28%. The most populous states had the largest number of public access Internet terminals, with 3,027 in New South Wales, 2,226 in Queensland and 2,218 in Victoria. Tasmania had the most public access Internet terminals per 10,000 persons (10.1) followed by South Australia (5.7) and Queensland (4.9).
For more information please visit the National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA) website, nsla.org.au.
PUBLIC ACCESS INTERNET TERMINALS PROVIDED IN AUSTRALIAN PUBLIC LIBRARIES(a), 2007-08 to 2011-12
| | NSW | Vic. | Qld | SA | WA | Tas.(b) | NT | ACT | Australia |
Number
|
| 2007-08 | no. | 2 414 | 1 630 | 1 615 | 746 | 811 | 484 | 61 | 60 | 7 821 |
| 2008-09 | no. | 2 587 | 1 723 | 1 974 | 890 | 809 | 484 | 103 | 82 | 8 652 |
| 2009-10 | no. | 2 735 | 1 951 | 2 023 | 1 093 | 819 | 391 | 103 | 78 | 9 193 |
| 2010-11 | no. | 2 872 | 2 036 | 2 063 | 1 346 | 832 | 688 | 114 | 68 | 10 019 |
| 2011-12 | no. | 3 027 | 2 218 | 2 226 | 945 | 875 | 518 | 89 | 76 | 9 974 |
| Change over 5 year period | % | 25 | 36 | 38 | 27 | 8 | 7 | 46 | 27 | 28 |
| Change to previous year | % | 5 | 9 | 8 | -30 | 5 | -25 | -22 | 12 | — |
Per 10 000 persons
|
| 2007-08 | no. | 3.5 | 3.1 | 3.8 | 4.7 | 3.8 | 9.7 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 3.7 |
| 2008-09 | no. | 3.6 | 3.2 | 4.5 | 5.5 | 3.6 | 9.6 | 4.6 | 2.3 | 4.0 |
| 2009-110 | no. | 3.8 | 3.5 | 4.5 | 6.7 | 3.6 | 7.7 | 4.5 | 2.2 | 4.1 |
| 2010-11 | no. | 3.9 | 3.6 | 4.5 | 8.1 | 3.6 | 13.5 | 5.0 | 1.9 | 4.4 |
| 2011-12 | no. | 4.2 | 3.9 | 4.9 | 5.7 | 3.6 | 10.1 | 3.8 | 2.0 | 4.4 |
| Change over 5 year period | % | 20 | 28 | 29 | 23 | -4 | 4 | 37 | 16 | 20 |
| Change to previous year | % | 6 | 9 | 8 | -30 | 2 | -25 | -24 | 9 | -1 |
— nil or rounded to zero (including null cells)
(a) Including mobile libraries.
(b) Tasmania's figures include co-located online access centres. LINCs (Learning & Information Network Centres) include libraries, online access centres and adult education venues.
Source: Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report, 2011-12, Public Library Services, State Library of Queensland, July 2013
FINANCIAL DATA FOR LIBRARIES
Expenditure of Government Funds on Libraries and Archives
According to the 2012-13 Cultural Funding by Government survey, the estimate of Australian Government funded expenditure for public libraries was $61.8m, while the estimate of state and territory government funded expenditure was $367.3m. Archives expenditure funded by the Australian Government was $106.3m, with a further $56.3m of expenditure funded by state and territory governments. Additional data related to the expenditure of government funds on cultural and heritage activities is available in the publication Cultural Funding by Government, Australia, 2012-13 (cat. no. 4183.0) on the ABS website.
EMPLOYMENT IN LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES
According to the 2011 Census, there were 7,343 persons who reported that their main job was in the Libraries and Archives industry with almost three quarters (73%) working in a cultural occupation. The most common occupations within the industry were Librarian (1,969 persons), Library Assistant (1,489 persons), and Library Technician (1,417 persons).
PERSONS EMPLOYED IN THE LIBRARIES AND ARCHIVES INDUSTRY(a)(b), By occupation, 2011
 |  | Number | % |
|
| Cultural occupations |  |  |
 | Librarian | 1 969 | 26.8 |
 | Library Technician | 1 417 | 19.3 |
 | Library Assistant | 1 489 | 20.3 |
 | Archivist | 194 | 2.6 |
 | Other cultural occupations | 303 | 4.1 |
 | Total cultural occupations | 5 372 | 73.2 |
| Other occupations | 1 908 | 26.0 |
| Total occupations(c) | 7 343 | 100.0 |
|
(a) Cells in this table have been randomly adjusted to avoid the release of confidential data.
(b) In their main job in the week prior to Census night.
(c) Includes not stated and inadequately described.
Source: Employment in Culture, Australia, 2011 (cat. no. 6273.0)
Useful links
Attendance at Selected Cultural Venues and Events, 2009-10 (cat. no. 4114.0)
National and State Libraries Australasia (NSLA), Australian Public Libraries Statistical Report 2011-2012, State Library of Queensland, July 2013, viewed 22 October 2013. nsla.org.au
Employment in Culture, Australia, 2011 (cat. no. 6273.0)
Please note that Public Libraries, Australia, 2003-04 (cat. no. 8561.0) has been discontinued. Click here to see historical data for public libraries. |
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