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Library Spending, by Sector, 2015-16

Almanac 2018
August 19, 2018

By the 2015-16 academic year, more than half of all library materials were electronic. The only sector that had more physical than electronic materials was four-year public institutions. Outside of salaries, the largest budget item for libraries was continuing commitments to subscriptions for journals, periodicals, newspapers, and other resources. Academic libraries spent nearly $2.3 billion on such subscriptions in 2015-16, nearly four times as much as they spent on one-time purchases of books and other materials.

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By the 2015-16 academic year, more than half of all library materials were electronic. The only sector that had more physical than electronic materials was four-year public institutions. Outside of salaries, the largest budget item for libraries was continuing commitments to subscriptions for journals, periodicals, newspapers, and other resources. Academic libraries spent nearly $2.3 billion on such subscriptions in 2015-16, nearly four times as much as they spent on one-time purchases of books and other materials.


Return to the Almanac home page, or go to the Profession, Students, Finance, or States section. To purchase a copy of the Almanac in print or as a downloadable interactive PDF, visit the Chronicle Store. Help guide us to give you the data you need by taking our 10-minute online Almanac survey.


4-year public institutions (687 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $274,481,386 6.7% $94,783
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $1,272,752,444 30.9% $570,520
Other materials/services $65,601,657 1.6% $17,855
Salaries and wages from the library budget $1,729,975,347 41.9% $1,210,004
Fringe benefits from the library budget $384,245,570 9.3% $166,052
Preservation services $26,645,550 0.6% $1,698
Other operation and maintenance spending $370,659,293 9.0% $130,283
Total $4,124,361,247 100.0% $2,521,761

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 608,330,874 62.4% 279,382
Electronic 367,089,788 37.6% 295,112
Total 975,420,662 100.0% 662,470

4-year private nonprofit institutions (1,515 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $297,160,499 9.2% $38,040
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $918,887,588 28.3% $178,000
Other materials/services $60,778,297 1.9% $6,091
Salaries and wages from the library budget $1,287,348,036 39.7% $350,000
Fringe benefits from the library budget $287,789,148 8.9% $34,760
Preservation services $15,096,738 0.5% $1,000
Other operation and maintenance spending $377,724,422 11.6% $50,962
Total $3,244,784,728 100.0% $693,271

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 371,144,786 47.5% 82,578
Electronic 409,457,300 52.5% 160,037
Total 780,602,086 100.0% 262,189

4-year for-profit institutions (371 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $3,724,714 4.6% $17,244
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $28,895,313 35.4% $55,024
Other materials/services $3,482,308 4.3% $173
Salaries and wages from the library budget $34,306,693 42.1% $100,439
Fringe benefits from the library budget $3,574,604 4.4% $11,015
Preservation services $113,395 0.1% $0
Other operation and maintenance spending $7,436,090 9.1% $1,211
Total $81,533,117 100.0% $216,840

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 3,804,573 2.3% 4,212
Electronic 158,733,053 97.7% 135,055
Total 162,537,626 100.0% 143,830

2-year public institutions (868 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $38,735,069 6.3% $27,438
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $60,132,232 9.7% $47,722
Other materials/services $9,812,947 1.6% $2,257
Salaries and wages from the library budget $393,762,052 63.7% $304,221
Fringe benefits from the library budget $85,211,580 13.8% $58,119
Preservation services $608,473 0.1% $0
Other operation and maintenance spending $29,960,287 4.8% $18,450
Total $618,222,640 100.0% $497,403

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 51,594,801 23.9% 39,636
Electronic 164,175,281 76.1% 100,018
Total 215,770,082 100.0% 157,788

2-year private nonprofit institutions (96 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $217,045 4.3% $5,600
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $1,505,691 29.6% $33,672
Other materials/services $272,358 5.4% $1,579
Salaries and wages from the library budget $2,653,710 52.2% $96,963
Fringe benefits from the library budget $354,193 7.0% $8,400
Preservation services $3,925 0.1% $0
Other operation and maintenance spending $74,457 1.5% $1,395
Total $5,081,379 100.0% $171,230

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 649,871 9.4% 1,938
Electronic 6,252,536 90.6% 790
Total 6,902,407 100.0% 8,701

2-year for-profit institutions (459 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $1,149,006 19.8% $15,344
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $746,279 12.9% $14,771
Other materials/services $15,907 0.3% $0
Salaries and wages from the library budget $3,270,257 56.3% $85,442
Fringe benefits from the library budget $258,363 4.4% $0
Preservation services $1,490 0.0% $0
Other operation and maintenance spending $366,259 6.3% $0
Total $5,807,561 100.0% $136,275

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 884,911 1.8% 880
Electronic 48,794,224 98.2% 672
Total 49,679,135 100.0% 4,193

All institutions (3,996 colleges)

SpendingAmount Share of totalMedian
One-time purchases of books and other materials $615,467,719 7.6% $37,131
Continuing commitments to subscriptions $2,282,919,547 28.3% $123,820
Other materials/services $139,963,474 1.7% $4,978
Salaries and wages from the library budget $3,451,316,095 42.7% $412,171
Fringe benefits from the library budget $761,433,458 9.4% $47,347
Preservation services $42,469,571 0.5% $115
Other operation and maintenance spending $786,220,808 9.7% $39,028
Total $8,079,790,672 100.0% $745,646

Collection materialsNumberShare of totalMedian
Physical 1,036,409,816 47.3% 49,330
Electronic 1,154,502,182 52.7% 148,950
Total 2,190,911,998 100.0% 208,984

Note: Salaries, wages, and benefits that are paid from a budget outside the library are not included in the totals. The number of institutions for each category represents those that have either physical or electronic library materials, or both. Only 25 percent of two-year nonprofit institutions and 5 percent of two-year for-profit institutions reported any library spending. Electronic materials include e-books, electronic databases, and periodicals that are digitally displayed on a computer screen. Questions or comments on the Almanac should be sent to the Almanac editor.

Source: Chronicle analysis of U.S. Department of Education data</small></p>

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A version of this article appeared in the August 24, 2018, issue.
Read other items in this Finance: Almanac 2018 package.
We welcome your thoughts and questions about this article. Please email the editors or submit a letter for publication.
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