The growth in public library use in the last decade (see Indicator V-8, Use of Public Libraries) has been accompanied by a steady increase in the amount of funds spent on core library resources. Between 1995 and 2005, per capita spending rose 18% from $26.73 to $31.65, in 2005 dollars (Figure V-10a; see the Note on Per Capita Library Statistics). Much of the inflation-adjusted growth in library spending has been in the area of staff expenditures, which made up approximately two-thirds of total expenditures. Expenditures on collections also grew during the first part of the time period, but then declined, the result being a net increase of only 3.7% over the decade.

Figure V-10a, Full Size Supporting Data

As Figure V-10b illustrates, the vast majority of the $9.7 billion in funding going to public libraries in 2005, 81%, flowed from local government. States and other sources (private funding and fees) were the two major sources of the other 19%. The federal government contributed 1% of public libraries’ operating revenues in 2005, most of it in the form of Library Services and Technology Act monies distributed by state library agencies (for more about these agencies’ activities and funding levels, see Indicator IV-4, State Library Agencies).

Figure V-10b, Full Size Supporting Data