ACRL College & Research Libraries News

College & Research Libraries News

Academic Library Statistics Released for 1974-75

The National Center for Educational Statistics (NCES) has released a preliminary report of its 1974-75 survey of college and university libraries. Based on a 95 percent return for the 2,977 academic libraries in the U.S., NCES reports that total expenditures for libraries increased at an annual average rate of only 5 percent from 1972-73 to 1974-75. The increase is considerably less than the previous average annual rates of increase of from 12 to 15 percent for the years from 1967-68 to 1970-71.

Average book prices increased 8 percent since the previous survey in 1972-73, while expenditures for books increased only 2.8 percent over the same period. Average periodical prices increased 34 percent during the two-year period between surveys; expenditures for periodicals increased 36 percent, indicating that libraries were continuing to keep up with the sharp price increases for periodicals.

Expenditures for salaries and wages increased at an average annual rate of 8 percent, compared to the average annual rates of 14 to 16 percent for the previous years. Libraries increased the total number of librarians 3 percent over the two years, while decreasing sharply the number of other professional staff employed in libraries (down 18 percent over the two- year period). Size of clerical and support staff increased 5 percent. The total size of staff in college and university libraries increased 2.6 percent from the fall of 1973 to the fall of 1975.

The survey was prepared under the direction of Stanley V. Smith. Inquiries should be directed to NCES, 400 Maryland Ave. SW, Washington, DC 20202. ■■