The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) has published the ARL Statistics 2021, ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2021, and ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2021.
These three publications present information describing the collections, staffing, expenditures, and service activities of the Association’s 125 member libraries in 2021. Of these 125 members, 117 are university libraries (16 in Canada and 101 in the US); the remaining 8 are public, governmental, and nonprofit research libraries in the US. The law and health sciences publications focus on the 73 law libraries and 58 medical libraries among the Association’s membership that completed the law and health sciences surveys.
The ARL libraries are a relatively small subset of libraries in Canada and the United States, but they account for a large portion of academic library resources in terms of assets and the number of users they serve. Members use these data to describe their operations and demonstrate how resources are used wisely for the benefit of their communities. The total expenditures (in US dollars) of all 125 member libraries in 2021 was $4.6 billion. In the same year, 31,372 full-time equivalent staff in ARL libraries made approximately 5 million contacts with their user communities through group presentations and reference transactions.
ARL Statistics Purchase Options
The ARL Statistics, ARL Academic Law Library Statistics, and ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics are available in both print and online formats.
Print Format
ARL Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 160 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-38-8
$170 ($85 ARL members)
ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 72 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-40-1
$135 ($65 ARL members)
ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 62 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-42-5
$135 ($65 ARL members)
Online Format
Access is available by password or IP range.
ARL Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 160 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-39-5
$170 (free for ARL members)
ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 72 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-41-8
$135 (free for ARL members)
ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2021
Anam Mian and Holly Gross
2023 • 62 pages
ISBN 978-1-948964-43-2
$135 (free for ARL members)
Password access to the ARL Statistics 2021, ARL Academic Law Library Statistics 2021, and ARL Academic Health Sciences Library Statistics 2021 can be purchased online with a credit card.
Order online IP access and print copies from:
ARL Publications Distribution Center
PO Box 531
Annapolis Junction MD 20701-0531
Phone: 301-362-8196
Fax: 240-396-2479
Email: arl@brightkey.net
Shipping and Handling
US: UPS Ground, $10/publication
Canada: UPS Ground, $15/per publication
International and Rush Orders: Call 301-362-8196 or email arl@brightkey.net for a quote.
Payment by check, money order, MasterCard, or Visa is accepted. Make check or money order payable in US funds to the Association of Research Libraries, Federal ID #52-0784198-N.
About the Association of Research Libraries
The Association of Research Libraries (ARL) is a nonprofit organization of research libraries in Canada and the US whose vision is to create a trusted, equitable, and inclusive research and learning ecosystem and prepare library leaders to advance this work in strategic partnership with member libraries and other organizations worldwide. ARL’s mission is to empower and advocate for research libraries and archives to shape, influence, and implement institutional, national, and international policy. ARL develops the next generation of leaders and enables strategic cooperation among partner institutions to benefit scholarship and society. ARL is on the web at ARL.org.
