search-engines-web.com spotted a Kennebec Journal article on the National Endowment for the Arts study, this time with a library angle. The number of books borrowed annually from the Waterville library has dropped almost a third in 10 years, from roughly 150,000 to 107,000. Increases in audio book, CD and video rentals have taken up some of the slack.
They raise an interesting question as well:
“It’s possible, of course, that Americans aren’t reading because there are fewer great books. Where, after all, is the next great American novel?“
Quality is more important not quantity
I think too much focus is placed on quantity rather than quality when it comes to circulation of library items. It is true that quantity is easier to measure and less meaningful than quality. Whatever the circulation statistic, it is important to have sensible collection development that throws caution to careless and ad-hoc withdrawal of items, especially in times of financial constraints and budget cuts. Someone might want to read that! What right do we have to deny that someone the right to read that particular item?