According to a report from the American Library Association (ALA), 55 percent of urban libraries, 36 percent of suburban libraries and 26 percent of rural libraries saw budget cuts this year.
Urban library patrons saw the largest reduction in service, as almost 32 percent reduced hours last year–nearly 23 percent higher than the previous year. Librarians cited job search services were most important at the library, but 56 percent of the libraries didn’t have enough staffing resources to help job-seekers. We’ve embedded an ALA slideshow above so you can explore the charts for these figures.
ALA President Roberta Stevens had this comment: “We’ve seen our libraries and communities struggle throughout this uneven economic recovery. Since the recession began, libraries have grappled with budget cuts and decreased hours, while users wait in lines before doors open, eager to use library computers or access Wi-Fi, get expert assistance for job search, and learn how to download e-books … We want patrons —and policymakers— to understand the dynamic resources available at today’s library and keep those resources funded.”