Library Journal and School Library Journal combine editorial & marketing expertise to conduct and present the most up-to-date library market research available.

These comprehensive and reliable reports use real data to help answer hard questions and aid decision making. Our in-house research experts conduct a variety of surveys each year focused on different aspects of public, academic, special and school libraries. Each report is made available as a downloadable pdf.

Transitional Books Survey Results Summary 2024

SLJ’s latest survey about transitional books for newly independent readers identifies how school and youth services librarians refer to these titles, who reads them, what subjects are most popular, and what influences title selection. Download this 15-page results summary based on 716 total responses, broken down by school and public library.

Click here to download this summary.

School Library Budget and Spending Survey Summary 2024

Compare your school library budget and spending allowances to averages compiled from 708 U.S. school library respondents. The results are segmented by elementary, middle school, and high school grade levels. The 10-page report features library media center budgets, funding sources, spending, and staffing details.

Click here to download this summary.

2023 Graphic Novels Survey report

Children’s and YA graphic novel/manga collections in U.S. school and public libraries are the focus of this research conducted in the spring of 2023. The report answers questions about popular subjects/genres, selection criteria, and shelving/display methods. Individual data and comparisons are presented for public libraries and elementary, middle, high, and K-12/K-8 school libraries.

Click here to download the 16-page report sponsored by Kodansha.

SLJ Controversial Book Survey: 2022-2023 Data Comparisons

This summary compares the results of SLJ’s 2022 and 2023 Controversial Books Surveys, which evaluated the effects of book challenges and censorship efforts in the United States on school librarians’ purchasing and display/shelving decisions, as well as on the profession itself. The report includes tables comparing elementary, middle, and high school library responses, as well as a selection of anonymized open-ended comments.

Click here to download this 31-page report.

2023 School Technology Survey Report

Sign up today to view a pdf containing data from SLJ’s most recent technology survey results. The charts in this 11-page report are segmented by elementary, middle, and high school library responses, and in some cases trended with previous technology survey results.

Click here to download the full report compliments of Follett

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion in Public and School Libraries 2021

NEW! From this summary of results from SLJ’s 2021 Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) survey, the reader will learn about the DEI policies in school and public libraries, how supported schools and public libraries feel in their DEI efforts, experiences with book challenges, and how libraries are handling titles that may contain stereotypes of marginalized groups.

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Collection Development and Weeding Survey Summary 2021

SLJ’s latest survey reveals trends in children’s/YA collection development and weeding in U.S. school and public libraries. The survey highlights the impact of the pandemic on circulation, purchasing, and weeding. The summary includes tables segmented by population served (public libraries) and school level (elementary school, middle school, and high school).

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School Library Budget and Spending Survey Summary 2021

Compare your school library budget and spending allowances to averages tabulated from 901 U.S. school library respondents. The results are segmented by elementary, middle school, and high school levels. The impact of COVID-19 on electronic versus physical resource purchasing, staffing, and respondent demographics are included in this 9-page summary report.

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2019 Information Literacy/College Readiness Survey

SLJ’s information literacy/college readiness survey answers questions about the role of middle and high school libraries in providing information literacy instruction. It includes data about skills taught and when, resources used, budgets, and other challenges associated with providing information literacy instruction.

Fill out the form below to download your copy of this informative 79-page PDF.

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2019 Public Library Summer Programming Survey

Download SLJ’s summer programming survey report to learn more about the types of youth programming offered in U.S. public libraries. The report reveals the most popular summer programs and reading incentives, as well as information about budgets and alternate sources of funding, all segmented by population served, region, and metropolitan status.

Fill out the form below to download your copy of this 33-page PDF.

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2018 Public Library Homework Help Survey

This report explores the in-person and online tutoring resources that public libraries offer to local students to assist with homework, school projects, or college prep. The extent to which schools coordinate with public libraries to develop, implement, and publicize these services is also revealed. Results are broken down by urban, suburban, small town, and rural libraries

Fill out the form below to download your copy of this 67-page PDF, courtesy of Tutor.com.

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2017 School library Maker Survey report

Download the full survey results from SLJ’s Spring 2017 school maker survey. The report highlights school librarian involvement in maker, the types of activities being offered, products used, funding and so much more. This comprehensive 69-page report presents results broken down by school type, locality (urban, suburban, small town & rural) and U.S. regions.

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2017 Maker Programs in Public Libraries Report 

Read LJ’s latest survey results about public library maker services for adults, teens, and children. This comprehensive 72-page report presents the results to our 2017 survey, including data broken down by library size and location (population served and urban/suburban/rural/small town).

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2016 Audiobooks in School Libraries

Sign up today to receive the results of Library Journal's exclusive survey of 456 school librarians from across the U.S. and Canada, featuring insights into audiobook collection size and circulation, physical vs. digital format preferences, and the challenges involved in providing and promoting this service. Much of the data is broken down by elementary, middle school, and high school libraries.

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2015 Ebook Usage Report: School (K-12) Libraries

This report is available for free download thanks to our sponsor. Upon submission of this request form, you will receive a confirmation email with a link to download and print the survey.

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