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Library Statistics and Figures: Number Employed in Libraries

A collection of often requested numeric information about libraries in the U.S.

Number of Paid Library Staff in the United States

  Librarians Other Paid Staff Total Paid Staff
Academic Libraries 26,606 59,145 85,751
Public Libraries 50,926 92,957 143,883
Public School Libraries 78,750 47,440 126,010
Private School Libraries 14,090 3,770 17,860
Bureau of Indian Education School Libraries 90 80 170
Total 168,022 201,823 369,845

 

Library Statistics from Other Countries

Sources

Numbers for Academic Libraries come from the National Center for Education Statistics Academic Libraries: 2012 First Look survey

Numbers for Public Libraries come from the Public Libraries Survey, FY 2019:

Numbers for Public School and Private School Libraries come from the NCES Characteristics of Public and Private Elementary and Secondary Schools in the United States: Results From the 2011–12 Schools and Staffing Survey 

Numbers for Bureau of Indian Education School Libraries come from Characteristics of Public and Bureau of Indian Education Elementary and Secondary School Library Media Centers in the United States: Results from the 2007-08 Schools and Staffing Survey