[Conntech] Some interesting statistics

[Sharon Brettschneider]

You probably heard about the NEA report on reading that was released this week  "To Read or Not to Read: A question of National Consequence".
http://www.nea.gov/research/ToRead.pdf 
Whatever you opinion about the report, I thought it a good time to remind you of the wealth of statistics on WebJunction Connecticut in case you get a call from a reporter along the lines of "I understand no one is reading anymore."

We have 5 years of statistics available online at: http://ct.webjunction.org/do/Navigation?category=6005 
Joanne Turschman, State Library Data Coordinator, pulled together a few statewide stats that may be helpful.  She was able to pull the very latest stats from the reports that were just submitted last week from public libraries. Of course you can find the statistics for your individual library by visiting the full online statistical profiles.

Total circulation has been fairly stable over the last six years.  This year it decreased slightly, but this was in a year when several larger libraries were in temporary buildings or closed for part of the year because of construction.

                              2002/2003                      2003/2004               2004/2005                    2005/2006                  2006/2007
total circ.	   
                            30,986,655	                   31,092,151	     30,374,748	         30,401,790	           30,232,262
						
Print Circulation*	
                            20,044,723	                  19,953,338	      19,268,234	        19,087,554	           19,175,571
*includes serials

adult books circ.	
                           10,495,470 	                10,343,321	        10,235,321	        10,123,660	           10,247,453
						
Library  program
attendance		
                              1,307,591	                 1,354,727	          1,452,112                1,514,767	            1,541,280

library visits         21,168,522               21,605,801	         20,928,205	          20,975,514	           20,958,662

                                             
The national average circulation per capita is 7.2.  In Connecticut it is 8.7.
The national percentage of juvenile circulation is 34.7%.  In Connecticut it is 43%.						
				





_____________________________
Sharon Brettschneider
Director, Division of Library Development
Connecticut State Library
231 Capitol Avenue
Hartford, CT  06106
860-757-6665
sbrett at cslib.org
ct.webjunction.org
Fax 860-757-6665