The Library and Information Statistics Unit (LISU)
LISU at Loughborough University produces several statistical reports. These include LAMPOST, Public Library Materials Fund and Budget Survey* and Average Prices of Academic Books*.
Other LISU publications are listed on their website.
Chartered Institute of Public Finance and Accountancy Public Library Statistics (CIPFA)
CIPFA Public Library Statistics* includes a detailed analysis of revenue expenditure and income, staffing levels, service points open to the public (including the number with access to online information), book stock and audio, visual and electronic stock, annual issues, inter-library loans, enquiries and visits. Further details from cipfastats.net.
The Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS)
DCMS gathers statistical information relating to library services through its Taking Part survey. This is a continuous household survey providing national data on participation in culture, leisure and sport by adults aged 16 and over. In relation to libraries, Taking Part asks respondents whether they have visited one in the past 12 months and, if so, how often. It also asks about their experiences during their last visit; their satisfaction with the library's services, and whether they would repeat the visit. The survey also tries to find out why respondents have not visited a library. A link to the datasets is on the DCMS website.
Public Lending Right (PLR)
Statistics on the most borrowed authors and titles are available on the PLR website.
LibScan
LibScan is a new service for public librarians offered by Nielsen BookScan UK. In return for providing your issue data to them you will have access to their free online service that allows you to:
- View reports by title, author or genre
- Compare issues within your authority
- Look at national trends
A summary of the latest LibScan data appeared in the Bookseller on January 21 2011
Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL)
SCONUL produce statistics relating to libraries in the academic sector*.
Survey of Secondary School Libraries prepared by CILIP*
The aim of this research, conducted in 2002 by the Survey and Statistical Research Centre (SSRC) at Sheffield Hallam University, with funding from CILIP, was to build up a picture of secondary school library provision.
British and Irish Association of Law Librarians (BIALL)
BIALL produce the Law Librarian Salary Survey* as well as the The Annual Academic Law Library Survey.
Reading habits and literacy
Independent research into children's reading habits, conducted on behalf of Booktrust for its free books programmes, Booktime and Booked Up.
National Literacy Trust published a report, Literacy: State of the Nation, in 2010.
Price of books and journals
SWETS Serials Price Increase Report is a comprehensive survey of annual serial price increases and works as an improved budgeting tool for libraries.
LISU publish Average Price of Academic Books
There is also some data on the Baker & Taylor Library Services website.
Publishing
The Publishers Association publish a series of statistics on the book market.
See also Book Marketing Limited and Nielsen BookScan
International Statistics
IFLA Statistics and Evaluation Section
The Section aims to promote the application of statistics, evaluation and assessment in libraries, both for the successful management and operation of libraries and for the demonstration of the value of libraries to their users, parent institutions and funding agencies. There are some useful links on their website.
IFLA World Reports
The World Report series is a biennial report series that reports on the state of the world in terms of freedom of access to information, freedom of expresion and related issues.
Some statistics are available in the Statesman's Yearbook*.
Additional statistics for the USA are available from the Library Research Service and the American Library Association's Office for Research & Statistics.
*Hard copies available to CILIP members in the Information Centre.