Learn About Libraries

The Latest Budget Information

FY12 Budget SummaryMCPL Budget Summary FY12 April 2011

FY12 Budget Adjustments: County Executive Recommendations

Director Parker Hamilton’s Opening Remarks at the HHS Worksession

Did you know?

• 62% of adults in the U.S. have public library cards (Harris 2010 survey)

• Americans go to school, public and academic libraries nearly three times more often than they go to the movies.

• Reference librarians in the nation’s public and academic libraries answer nearly 5.7 million questions weekly. Standing single file, the line of questioners would span from Long Island, New York, to Juneau, Alaska. Here in Montgomery County, librarians answered 4,480 questions on Snapshot Day, or almost 31,360 questions weekly.

• A 2009 poll conducted for the American Library Association found that 96% respondents agreed that public libraries play an important role in giving everyone a chance to succeed because it provides free access to materials and resources.

• In Maryland, an overwhelming 90 percent of the state’s citizens say public libraries are “a good investment.” More than 40 percent of the state’s citizens think of public libraries as an economic anchor, potentially attracting “good businesses” to their area.

Facts about Public Libraries

• There are more public libraries than McDonald’s in the U.S.—a total of 16,604 including branches.

• Americans spend more than twice as much on candy as they do on public libraries.

• Americans check out an average of more than seven books a year. They spend $34.95 a year for the public library—about the average cost of one hardcover book.

• Public libraries are the number one point of online access for people without internet connections at home, school or work.

• 98.7% of public libraries provide public access to the Internet.

• More than 65% of public libraries provide services for job seekers

Quotes provided by the American Library Association, “Quotable Facts” and the October 5, 2010 Snapshot Day Results.

Other Helpful Links

How Libraries Stack Up, a report from OCLC

Talking Points and Highlights for supporting MCPL

Maryland Public Libraries Fact Sheet