** With apologies for cross-posting **

Public Library Materials Fund and Budget Survey 2004-06

LISU is pleased to announce the imminent 
publication of the latest Public Library 
Materials Fund and Budget
Survey report, describing in detail how UK public 
library services are faring and their plans for 
the
future. Based on an extensive questionnaire 
survey, and supported by the Museums, Libraries 
and
Archives Council (MLA), it is available within 
six months of the start of data gathering, and 
this year
has a response rate of 86%.

Details of actual expenditure for 2003-04 and 
2004-05 are presented alongside the original
estimates for 2004-06 and the latest 2005-06 
budget estimates for individual library 
authorities.
Summary tables cover total library expenditure, 
total materials expenditure, expenditure on books
and on audio-visual materials, professional and 
total staff, number of service points and opening
hours. There is a detailed commentary giving 
sector totals, with tables showing the percentage
changes from year to year.

Key fi ndings from this year's survey include:
* Total library expenditure in the UK rose by 1.9% in 2004-05
* Materials expenditure increased by 1.6%
* Audio-visual expenditure continued to rise with 
an increase of 9.3% for the UK
as a whole in 2004-05.
* There was a 1.5% increase for the UK overall in 
the number of hours service points are open
Library managers, the book trade, academics and 
other interested parties all need reliable and up 
to
date statistics. The Public Library Materials 
Fund and Budget Survey is an important source 
which
takes the pulse at several important pressure 
points of the entire UK public library system. 
This
volume of extensive and detailed data is a useful 
management, marketing and study aid.

The report is available to download now free of charge from the LISU web site
(http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/ls/lisu/pages/publications). 
Print copies are also available
at £32.50 (ISBN 1901786927, A4) from LISU, 
Loughborough University, Leics LE11 3TU.
Tel: 01509 635680, Fax: 01509 635699, Email: 
[log in to unmask] and through TeleOrdering.


For further information contact
Claire Creaser, Deputy Director and Senior Statistician, LISU, Holywell Park,
Loughborough University, Loughborough, Leics LE11 3TU. Tel: 01509 635682,
email: [log in to unmask]

LISU
LISU is a national research and information 
centre based in the Research School of Informatics
and the Department of Information Science at 
Loughborough University. LISU comprises a team
of experienced Information Managers, 
Statisticians, Researchers and Administrators 
focusing on
the analysis, development, interpretation and 
dissemination of statistics, performance 
assessment
measures and related management data as well as 
advising on their application and exploitation in
the real situation. It has an established 
reputation as an independent authority in its fi 
eld fulfi lling a
key role in supporting managers of information 
and library services amongst others.
-- 
**************************************************************
Dr Sally Maynard
Research Fellow, LISU and
Editor, "New Review of Children's Literature and Librarianship"
Loughborough University
Loughborough
Leicestershire   LE11 3TU

***************************************************************
E-mail: [log in to unmask]

Tel: +44 (0)1509 635689
Fax: +44 (0)1509 635699

http://www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu