Public-library circulation varied substantially across the 10 states covered by the FY 2016 Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) state profiles. Massachusetts recorded 9.27 circulations per person, while Mississippi recorded 2.52. The same profiles also report collection materials per person, operating revenue and expenditures per person, and program attendance per 1,000 people, giving a broader view of library activity and resources.
Contents
- Circulation at a glance
- Collection materials
- Operating revenue
- Operating expenditures
- Program attendance
- State-by-state reference
Circulation at a glance
Circulation per person is the number of recorded library checkouts relative to the population measure used in the state profile. It is a per-person measure, not a count of unique borrowers or individual books read. Because every figure here comes from FY 2016, the comparisons describe that fiscal year rather than current library use.
The highest reported circulation rates in this group were in Massachusetts, Minnesota, and Kansas. Massachusetts public libraries recorded 9.27 circulations per person. Minnesota recorded 9.25, almost the same level, and Kansas recorded 8.17. Michigan followed with 7.86, while Nevada recorded 6.92.
Several states were below six circulations per person. Kentucky recorded 4.58, and Florida and Hawaii each recorded 4.39. Georgia recorded 3.68. Mississippi had the lowest figure in the supplied group, at 2.52 circulations per person.
| State | Circulation per person | Measurement period |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 9.27 | FY 2016 |
| Minnesota | 9.25 | FY 2016 |
| Kansas | 8.17 | FY 2016 |
| Michigan | 7.86 | FY 2016 |
| Nevada | 6.92 | FY 2016 |
| Kentucky | 4.58 | FY 2016 |
| Florida | 4.39 | FY 2016 |
| Hawaii | 4.39 | FY 2016 |
| Georgia | 3.68 | FY 2016 |
| Mississippi | 2.52 | FY 2016 |
Source for all figures in this article: [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Florida], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Georgia], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Hawaii], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Kentucky], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Massachusetts], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Michigan], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Minnesota], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Mississippi], [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Kansas], and [IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Nevada]. No direct URLs were supplied for these source labels.
Collection materials
Collection materials per person describes the size of the reported library collection relative to population. It should not be read as the number of items checked out. Circulation measures use, while collection materials measure the available stock represented in the profile.
Massachusetts had the largest collection figure among these states, with 10.23 collection materials per person in FY 2016. Kansas was close behind at 7.98, and Kentucky reported 8.64. Michigan reported 4.38 collection materials per person, while Minnesota reported 3.98.
The remaining states reported fewer than three collection materials per person except for the states already noted. Florida and Hawaii each recorded 2.39. Mississippi recorded 2.27, Nevada 2.11, and Georgia 1.90. These figures show that collection size and circulation are related measures, but they do not establish that one caused the other.
The contrast between Massachusetts and Georgia is especially visible in the reported collection measure: Massachusetts had 10.23 materials per person, compared with Georgia’s 1.90. Kansas and Kentucky also reported comparatively large collections at 7.98 and 8.64 materials per person, respectively. Nevada’s 2.11 and Mississippi’s 2.27 were among the smaller collection figures in this set.
Operating revenue
Total operating revenue per person indicates the operating revenue reported relative to population in each FY 2016 state profile. It is not a household tax bill, a library-card fee, or a measure of a single library’s annual budget. The statistic is presented here exactly as reported by IMLS for the state profile.
Massachusetts reported the highest total operating revenue per person in the group, at $45.06. Michigan reported $43.51, and Minnesota reported $41.56. Kentucky reported $39.50, while Kansas reported $37.89.
Nevada’s total operating revenue was $33.47 per person. Florida and Hawaii each reported $24.93. Mississippi reported $19.00, and Georgia reported $18.75, the lowest revenue figure among the 10 states listed.
The revenue figures place the states into a broad range. At the upper end are Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Kentucky, and Kansas. At the lower end are Georgia and Mississippi, with Florida and Hawaii between those groups. These are state-profile comparisons for FY 2016 and should not be treated as current funding levels.
Operating expenditures
Total operating expenditures per person provide a comparable view of reported spending. Expenditures are not the same as revenue, and the relationship between the two can differ by state. The profiles report both measures separately, so they should remain separate when comparing library systems.
Massachusetts reported the highest total operating expenditures per person in this group, at $46.81. Minnesota reported $40.62, Kentucky $39.73, and Michigan $38.53. Kansas reported $36.53 per person.
Nevada reported $29.33 in total operating expenditures per person. Florida and Hawaii each reported $24.34. Georgia reported $18.90, while Mississippi reported $16.86, the lowest expenditure figure in the supplied profiles.
| State | Revenue per person | Expenditures per person |
|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | $45.06 | $46.81 |
| Michigan | $43.51 | $38.53 |
| Minnesota | $41.56 | $40.62 |
| Kentucky | $39.50 | $39.73 |
| Kansas | $37.89 | $36.53 |
| Nevada | $33.47 | $29.33 |
| Florida | $24.93 | $24.34 |
| Hawaii | $24.93 | $24.34 |
| Georgia | $18.75 | $18.90 |
| Mississippi | $19.00 | $16.86 |
Both Massachusetts and Minnesota reported relatively high revenue and expenditure figures, but their circulation measures were not identical: Massachusetts recorded 9.27 circulations per person and Minnesota 9.25. Georgia and Mississippi had the lowest circulation figures, yet their revenue and expenditure figures were not identical. The separate columns are therefore useful for avoiding assumptions based on only one financial measure.
Program attendance
Total program attendance per 1,000 people measures attendance using a different denominator from circulation and collection materials. It should not be compared as if it were a per-person circulation rate. The FY 2016 profiles report program attendance per 1,000 people for each state.
Kentucky recorded the highest program attendance in this group, at 739.56 attendees per 1,000 people. Kansas followed with 530.59. Massachusetts reported 430.29, Michigan 360.17, and Nevada 295.42.
Minnesota reported 285.60 program attendees per 1,000 people. Mississippi reported 222.43, while Georgia reported 235.71. Florida and Hawaii each recorded 200.00, the lowest program-attendance figure among these state profiles.
Program attendance changes the way the states rank compared with circulation. Kentucky ranked below the highest-circulation states on circulation per person at 4.58, but it had the highest reported program attendance at 739.56 per 1,000 people. Massachusetts combined a high circulation figure of 9.27 with program attendance of 430.29 per 1,000. Florida and Hawaii had identical supplied values for both measures shown here: 4.39 circulations per person and 200.00 program attendees per 1,000 people.
State-by-state reference
The following profiles keep the five supplied measures together for each state. All measurements refer to FY 2016 and use the units named in the IMLS state-profile data.
Florida. Florida public libraries recorded 4.39 circulations per person, $24.93 in total operating revenue per person, $24.34 in total operating expenditures per person, 2.39 collection materials per person, and 200.00 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Florida.
Georgia. Georgia reported 3.68 circulations per person, $18.75 in total operating revenue per person, $18.90 in total operating expenditures per person, 1.90 collection materials per person, and 235.71 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Georgia.
Hawaii. Hawaii recorded 4.39 circulations per person, $24.93 in total operating revenue per person, $24.34 in total operating expenditures per person, 2.39 collection materials per person, and 200.00 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Hawaii.
Kentucky. Kentucky recorded 4.58 circulations per person, $39.50 in total operating revenue per person, $39.73 in total operating expenditures per person, 8.64 collection materials per person, and 739.56 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Kentucky.
Massachusetts. Massachusetts recorded 9.27 circulations per person, $45.06 in total operating revenue per person, $46.81 in total operating expenditures per person, 10.23 collection materials per person, and 430.29 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Massachusetts.
Michigan. Michigan recorded 7.86 circulations per person, $43.51 in total operating revenue per person, $38.53 in total operating expenditures per person, 4.38 collection materials per person, and 360.17 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Michigan.
Minnesota. Minnesota recorded 9.25 circulations per person, $41.56 in total operating revenue per person, $40.62 in total operating expenditures per person, 3.98 collection materials per person, and 285.60 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Minnesota.
Mississippi. Mississippi recorded 2.52 circulations per person, $19.00 in total operating revenue per person, $16.86 in total operating expenditures per person, 2.27 collection materials per person, and 222.43 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Mississippi.
Kansas. Kansas recorded 8.17 circulations per person, $37.89 in total operating revenue per person, $36.53 in total operating expenditures per person, 7.98 collection materials per person, and 530.59 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Kansas.
Nevada. Nevada recorded 6.92 circulations per person, $33.47 in total operating revenue per person, $29.33 in total operating expenditures per person, 2.11 collection materials per person, and 295.42 program attendees per 1,000 people. Source: IMLS FY 2016 state profile: Nevada.
When using these figures, keep the fiscal year and denominator with every comparison. Circulation and collection materials are per-person measures; program attendance is per 1,000 people; and the financial figures are dollars per person. That distinction is essential when reading the FY 2016 IMLS state profiles together.