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Overview · 5
Overview
ARL Statistics 2010–2011 is the latest in a series of annual publications that describe collections, staffing, expenditures,
and service activities for the 126 members of the Association of Research Libraries (ARL). Of these, 115 are university
libraries the remaining 11 are public, governmental, and nonprofit research libraries. ARL member libraries are the
largest research libraries in North America, representing 18 Canadian and 108 US research institutions. The academic
libraries, which comprise 91% of the membership, include 16 Canadian and 99 US libraries.
Statistics have been collected and published annually for the members of the Association of Research Libraries
since 1961–62, and the data are available through an interactive Web interface. Prior to 1961–62, annual statistics
for university libraries were collected by James Gerould, first at the University of Minnesota and later at Princeton
University.1 These data, covering the years 1907–08 through 1961–62, are now called the Gerould statistics.2 The whole
data series from 1908 represents the oldest and most comprehensive continuing library statistical series in North
America.
ARL libraries are a relatively small subset of libraries in North America, but they do account for a large portion
of academic library resources in terms of assets, budgets, and the number of users they serve. The total library
expenditures of all 126 member libraries in 2010–2011 was slightly more than $4.6 billion from that, approximately
$3.2 billion was spent by the 115 university libraries and more than $1.3 billion by the nonuniversity libraries. The pie
charts below show how the two types of libraries divide these expenditures differently.
University Libraries 2010–2011 Nonuniversity Libraries 2010–2011
1 Kendon L. Stubbs and Robert E. Molyneux, Research Library Statistics 1907–08 through 1987–88. (Washington, DC: ARL, 1990).
2 Robert E. Molyneux, The Gerould Statistics 1907/08 – 1961/62. (Washington, DC: ARL, 1986) http://www.libqual.org/documents/admin/2012/1986_
Molyneux_Gerould.pdf and http://www.libqual.org/documents/admin/2012/2010_Molyneux_Gerould.pdf
Contract Binding
0.14%
Other Operating
37.15%
Library Materials
5.16%
Total Salaries
57.55%
Contract Binding
0.40%
Other Operating
11.62%
Library Materials
42.80%
Total Salaries
45.18%