The Boston Globe on libraries in Massachusetts
Steven Cohen’s LibraryStuff blog alerted me to an article in the Boston Globe about library statistics in Massachusetts over the past decade. The statistics show large increases in circulation, interlibrary loan requests, and requests for audiovisual materials. Although little comment is made about use of reference sources, either online or in print (since reference sources don’t circulate), the article does mention that use of computer rooms–in which users, in part, can access electronic databases that the library has subscribed to–has also surged. All of this took place in a period of funding difficulty, especially since 2003, which makes it particularly welcome news for libraries and publishers alike.