FY 2021 Public Libraries Survey provides insight on continued changes in library services into the pandemic

Washington, DC—The Institute of Museum and Library Services (IMLS) announced today the release of a research brief on the continued response of public libraries to community needs two years into the COVID-19 pandemic. The brief, “Changes in Public Library Services as the COVID-19 Pandemic Continued Through FY 2021,” highlights how public libraries ensured patrons had access to library services as the pandemic reverberated through communities around the nation, further showcasing the significant role libraries have in their communities.

Findings from the research include:

• Fewer public library systems reported buildings closed to the public due to COVID-19 policies in FY 2021 (57 percent) compared to FY 2020 (90 percent).

• Electronic material circulation rates continued to increase through FY 2021, maintaining a trend first noted in FY 2018.

• The percentage of libraries allowing patrons to register for library cards online continued to increase in cities and suburbs, and libraries offering this option had higher electronic circulation per person than those that did not.

• Outside Wi-Fi access continued to be a popular way that public libraries met the digital needs of their communities, especially in rural and town libraries.

• Outside circulation of collection materials (e.g., curbside pick-up) remained a widely adopted service offered by libraries, with at least 80 percent offering it in both FY 2020 and FY 2021.

Additionally, IMLS’s Library Search and Compare Tool includes library-level detail on COVID-19-related services such as whether a particular library continued services that were added or increased during COVID-19 closures, issued e-library cards, or boosted Wi-Fi access outside of library buildings. Access the Library Search and Compare Tool here.

To read the full Public Libraries Survey research brief, please visit www.imls.gov/publications.

About the Institute of Museum and Library Services
The Institute of Museum and Library Services is the primary source of federal support for the nation's libraries and museums. We advance, support, and empower America's museums, libraries, and related organizations through grantmaking, research, and policy development. IMLS envisions a nation where individuals and communities have access to museums and libraries to learn from and be inspired by the trusted information, ideas, and stories they contain about our diverse natural and cultural heritage. To learn more, visit www.imls.gov and follow us on Facebook and LinkedIn.