CULT01: Libraries and volumes by reporting country, type of library, content and time

A library is an institution containing collections of books, periodicals, and sometimes films and recorded music for use or borrowing by the public or the members of an institution.

CULT01 was revised with new definitions for the types of libraries and contents during 2022.

reporting country

Denmark

In the period 1990-2017 there were two national libraries: the Royal Library in Copenhagen and the State Library in Aarhus. In 2017, they merged into the Royal Library. As a result, there is an increase in stock of volumes in the years after 2017 under national libraries.

Public library loans include interlibrary loans.

The number of loans in public libraries may not be exclusive to physical media.

The number of volumes lent in public libraries include interlibrary loans.

In 2016-2017, no data is available for public libraries regarding loans or stock due to libraries changing IT-systems.

Faroe Islands

Stock of volumes: Only books are included. 2010: no data available.

Greenland

No compiled library statistics available. Values on stock and loands are only available for the national library of Greenland. Loans in national libraries include initial loans and reloans. Both digital and physical media are included.

Finland

Includes Åland.

Number of public libraries, definition differs over time. 2001-2021: Main libraries and Branch libraries, 2022-: Service points.

Number of volumes lent from the National library, 2013, break in time series.

No data on National libraries available for Finland from 2021 and onwards. They were previously delivered from the National library.

From 2023 - new source for public libraries, definitions may differ. Åland is not included from 2023 and on-wards.

Åland

Number of volumes lent: Includes e-books and renewed loans.

Åland does not have a national library of its own.

Number of public libraries delivered by ÅSUB.

Iceland

The statistics from Iceland include libraries (and thus also Volumes of stocks and Loans) in hospitals, elderly-care institutions, prisons, etc.

Currently there are no statistics regarding public libraries available for the years 2001 and onwards for Iceland. This is an ongoing project at Statistics Iceland and will be added in the future.

The 1999 value on Volumes lent for Public Libraries is under review.

Norway

No data prior to 2013 on Statistics Norway.

Norway

Break in timeseries from 2023 and onwards for Stock of volumes in National libraries, only unique titles are now reported.

Sweden

Definition differs: number of volumes lent for public libraries include reloans, due to undercoverage in the statistics on initial loans.

Break in time series 2014: all four branches of the National library are now included in the statistics (previously only the main branch).

type of library

National libraries

Library that is responsible for acquiring and conserving copies of all relevant documents published in the country in which the library is located.

A national library will also normally perform some or all of the following functions: produce the national bibliography; hold and keep up to date a large and representative collection of foreign literature including documents about the country; act as a national bibliographic information centre; compile union catalogues; supervise the administration of other libraries and/or promote collaboration; coordinate a research and development service; etc.

The definition of 'national library' allows for more than one national library in a country.

The definition is based on ISO-standard 2789:2013.

Public libraries

A public library is defined as follows:

Publicly funded (in whole or in part)
Open to the public
Has a permanent address

If an organization has several branches, each branch must be counted as its own library

Libraries aimed at a limited group are not included, eg school libraries, research/university libraries or hospital libraries, unless the service is provided by a public library organization or provided to public libraries in a region by a regional organization.

The definition is based on ISO-standard 2789:2013.

content

Stock of volumes

Exclusively physical media, for example:
Books
Audio books
Music recordnings
Movies
Newspapers/Magazines
Maps

Number of volumes lent

Loans of physical media. Initial loans only (not renewals). Interlibrary loans excluded.