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Public library statistics

The State Library collects comprehensive statistics from councils annually about their library services.

Under section 5 of the Library Act 1939 the Library Council of NSW makes careful inquiry into the administration and management of every local library in NSW.  Key annual statistics are then used by public libraries for planning, developing and managing library services.

Please find the annual statistics below to download for your use.

Public library statistics

PDF Excel
2017/18 2017/18
2016/17 2016/17
PDF icon2015/16 File2015/16
PDF icon2014/15 File2014/15
PDF icon2013/14 File2013/14
PDF icon2012/13 File2012/13
PDF icon2011/12 File2011/12
PDF icon2010/11  
PDF icon2009/10  

Please contact Public Library Services staff for access to earlier statistics.


Summary statistics

As at June 2018 there were 369 public libraries in NSW and 22 mobile libraries servicing small and isolated communities (note there are 372 public libraries as at May 2019). 

The key indicators of public library use show that they are highly valued by their communities.

In 2017/18 there were:

  • 33.9 million physical visits to NSW public libraries
  • 40.2 million loans of collection items
  • 14.8 million virtual visits to public library websites 
  • 10.3 million internet bookings (including wi-fi)
  • 1,240,512 ebook loans, an increase of 80% from 2012/13 to 2017/18

Source: State Library of NSW August 2019

NSW public library Highlights infographic NSW.net Highlights infographic

Enquiry completion rate

The Library Act 1939 s10 sets out that public libraries are to offer free basic reference services to the community. Reference assistance is a core service, and is one of the facets of library service that is a point of difference between libraries and other agencies. Collecting and reporting data for this important indicator of use assists to demonstrate the value of public libraries.

Enquiry completion rate (ECR) survey differentiates information requests and customer service requests, it also combines the requests to create an Enquiry completion rate total.

If you are already collecting detailed statistics and reporting them annually to the State Library please continue to use your existing method.


Dates​
  • 5 August 2019
  • 4 November 2019
  • 3 February 2020
  • 4 May 2020
  • 3 August 2020
  • 2 November 2020
  • 1 February 2021
  • 3 May 2021
  • 2 August 2021
  • 1 November 2021

The survey runs from Monday to Sunday

Instructions

For the person at each library service co-ordinating the Enquiry completion rate (ECR) survey

  1. Read the ECR definitions (below) 
  2. Download the ECR daily tally sheet
  3. Print one copy for each branch for each day they are open
  4. Train all staff who service clients in how to fill in the forms
  5. Make the forms available for the week
  6. At the end of the week download the ECR form (excel spreadsheet) which matches the number of branches at your library service
  7. Save the spreadsheet
  8. On the results sheet tab enter the dates of the survey – this will embed them on the location pages
  9. Fill in the location page information for your branches, save the spreadsheet
  10. Save the spreadsheets so that the data is available for your annual statistical return (you do not need to send these to the State Library, we just require your totals at the end of the financial year). To obtain the total for the year, add the four totals together, and multiply by 13.
Blank forms

These forms were originally developed by the Public Libraries Evaluation Group (PLEG).

FileECR definitions

(Word 19KB)
FileECR tally sheet(Word 14.42 KB) Revised ECR  tally sheet
FileECR form - 1 location (Excel 46.11 KB)
FileECR form - 2 locations (Excel 54.96 KB)
FileECR form - 3 locations (Excel  65.35 KB)
FileECR form - 4 locations (Excel 75.84 KB)
FileECR form - 5 locations (Excel 86.23 KB)
FileECR form - 6 locations (Excel 96.5 KB)
FileECR form - 7 locations (Excel 106.93 KB)
FileECR form - 8 locations (Excel 117.42 KB)
FileECR form - 9 locations (Excel 127.72 KB)
FileECR form - 10 locations (Excel 137.93 KB)
FileECR form - 11 locations (Excel 148.37 KB)
FileECR form - 12 locations (Excel 158.88 KB)
FileECR form - 13 locations (Excel 170.84 KB)
FileECR form - 14 locations (Excel 179.82 KB)
FileECR form - 15 locations (Excel 191.74 KB)
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