Question:
From what sources are state libraries funded?

Response:

Revenue

Sources of state library agency revenue are the federal government, state governments, and other sources, such as local, regional, or multi-jurisdictional sources. State library agencies may also receive income from private sources, such as foundations, corporations, friends of libraries groups, and individuals. State library agencies may also generate revenue through fees for service or fines. Revenue may be designated for aid to libraries, for the current and recurrent costs necessary for the provision of services by the state library agencies, or other purposes.

• State library agencies reported a total revenue of $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2005. The states provided state library agencies with $895 million in revenue, $158 million came from federal sources, and $30 million came from other sources.¹

• Of the financial assistance to libraries provided by state library agencies in fiscal year 2005, some 56 percent ($409 million) was targeted to individual public libraries.

Expenditures

Operating expenditures are the current and recurrent costs necessary for the provision of services by the state library agencies.

• State library agencies reported total expenditures of $1.1 billion in fiscal year 2005. Of those expenditures, $733 million were for financial assistance to libraries (69 percent), and $310 million were operating expenditures (29 percent).

• State library agencies reported that $172 million (56 percent) of their operating expenditures for fiscal year 2005 was for employee salaries and benefits.

¹ Federal income includes State Program income under the LSTA (P.L. 104�8), income from Title II of the Library Services and Construction Act (LSCA) (P.L. 101�4), and other federal income. Note: LSCA was superseded by LSTA, but LSCA Title II funds are still active.

SOURCE: U.S. Department of Education, National Center for Education Statistics. (2006). State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2005 (NCES 2007-300).

Other Resources:  (Listed by Release Date)

• 2007, Find Your Library, 2004 Data
  
• 2007, Library Statistics Program
  
• 2006, E.D. TAB: Public Libraries in the United States: Fiscal Year 2004
  
• 2005, E.D. TAB: State Library Agencies: Fiscal Year 2004