RLI 280 Research Library Trends: A Historical Picture of Services, Resources, and Spending 25 SEPTEMBER 2012 RESEARCH LIBRARY ISSUES: A QUARTERLY REPORT FROM ARL, CNI, AND SPARC Figure 5. Resources per Student in ARL University Libraries, 1986–2011 Figure 5 shows that ARL libraries acquired 33% fewer monographs per student in 2011 than in 1986. Libraries also reported fewer staff per student in 2011 as compared to 1986. In 2011, there was a median number of fewer than 10 total staff per 1,000 students, compared to the 1986 level of 16 staff per 1,000 students. This trend may be related to the falling number of circulation and reference transactions and the rising number of library presentations shown in Figure 1—fewer staff may be needed for one-on-one transactions compared to group presentations. -50% 0% 50% 100% 150% 200% 2010 2007 2004 2001 1998 1995 1992 1989 1986 Total Staff (-38%) Volumes Added (-14%) Volumes Held (+34%) Interlibrary Borrowing (+166%) Monographs Purchased (-33%) % Change Since 1986