Maine Public Libraries - Keeping Maine Connected 2006 (Brochure)

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Cost of a hardcover book
.....$25*
Cost of a Basic Reference Package
....$635*
Cost of new computer with Internet capability
....$500*
Yearly cost of high speed Internet connectivity
....$360*
Yearly cost of the statewide online database subscription
....$750,000
Walking into a Maine public library and having all of these resources and more available for free
....PRICELESS

*costs are estimates

2006 Maine Public Library Statistics

9,015,518 items were circulated by Maine libraries - 24,700 items each day with 38% of Maine's libraries being open fewer than 20 hours per week
6,331,603 print materials are housed in Maine libraries - that’s almost 5 volumes per Maine citizen
452,810 audios and videos combined are available at Maine public libraries
719,693 reference questions were answered - that's 1,972 questions per day statewide
1,004,817 patrons used electronic resources
26,305 programs were offered at Maine public libraries
454,411 citizens attended these programs
215,469 items were borrowed through Interlibrary Loan
209,616 items were provided to other libraries through ILL

(from Quotable Facts About America's Libraries, American Library Association. 2003.)

Americans go to school, public and academic libraries more than twice as often as they go to the movies.
Americans spend more than three times as much on salty snacks as they do on public libraries.
Federal spending on libraries annually is only 54 cents per person.
A 2002 poll conducted for the American Library Association found that 91% of respondents expect libraries to be needed in the future, despite the increased availability of information via the Internet.
There are more public libraries than McDonald's - a total of 16,220, including branches.
Americans check out an average of more than six books a year. They spend $25.25 a year for the public library - much less than 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.
95% of public libraries provide public access to the Internet.

There are currently 272 public libraries in Maine recognized by MSL.
Annual municipal funding for public libraries: $26,603,530. That's under $20 per resident, less than the cost of an average hardcover book.
Libraries in Maine have 1,319 internet computers available to the public, including free access to the MARVEL database
Libraries employ 1,224 people.
3,156 citizens volunteer at Maine public libraries.
There are 797,968 registered Maine library patrons. That's 60% of the population.
5,825,861 people visited Maine libraries in 2006. That's 15,961 visits per day.
Ten times more people visited Maine libraries last year than people attending Portland Pirates and Sea Dogs games.
There are at least 6 libraries in each of the 16 counties in Maine. The average number of libraries per county is 17.