Libraries

At the 2006 Midwinter meeting of the American Library Association in January, Heritage Preservation presented Heritage Health Index data on libraries not previously published. The Heritage Health Index found that libraries hold 63 percent—or about 3 billion—of the 4.8 billion collections items in the United States. These graphs outline specific data points on public libraries (not including branch libraries), academic libraries (includes four-year colleges and universities only), independent research libraries (includes national and state libraries), and special libraries (e.g., law, hospital, and religious libraries and libraries for the blind and handicapped). For a full explanation of how libraries were included in the survey, refer to Chapter 1, Heritage Health Index Development (pp. 8-9) and Chapter 2, Heritage Health Index Methodology (pp. 16-18).

Libraries with No Emergency Plan with Staff Trained to Carry It Out (by type)

libraries1
Collections at Risk Because Libraries Do Not Have Emergency Plans (by type)

libraries2

Libraries Using No Environmental Controls for the Preservation of Collections (by type)

libraries6

Libraries’ Staffing for Conservation/Preservation (by type)

libraries3

Institutions with Funds Allocated for Conservation/Preservation in Annual Budget (most recently completed fiscal year)

libraries4