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Public Library Materials Fund and Budget Survey 2005-07 LISU is pleased to announce 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. The series, which is now sponsored by Nielsen BookData, provides an independent and objective overview of UK public library resource utilisation. Details of actual expenditure for 2004-05 and 2005-06 are presented alongside the original estimates for 2005-06 and the latest 2006-07 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. Based on an extensive questionnaire survey, it is available within six months of the start of data gathering, and this year has a response rate of 79%. Key findings from this year's survey include: o Total library expenditure in the UK rose by 5.0% in 2005-06; the sixth consecutive increase o Total materials expenditure in the UK was largely unchanged at £112,851,000 o Audio-visual expenditure showed a slight increase of 0.2% for the UK as a whole in 2005-06 o Book expenditure showed a slight decrease of 0.2% for the UK as a whole in 2005-06 o Total staff numbers rose by 0.4%, but there was a decrease of 2.7% in professional staff o There was a 0.8% increase for the UK overall in the number of hours that service points are open Library managers, the book trade, academics, policy makers 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 free of charge from the Nielsen BookData web site <http://www.nielsenbookdata.co.uk/nbd/news.asp>http://www.nielsenbookdata.co.uk/nbd/news.asp. Print copies are also available at £35.25 (ISBN 13: 978-905499-08-3; ISBN 10: 1-905499-08-6; A4) from LISU, Loughborough University, Leics LE11 3TU. <http://%20www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/pages/publications/matfund06.html>http:// www.lboro.ac.uk/departments/dis/lisu/pages/publications/matfund06.html 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] -- ************************************************************** 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