Public libraries
Explanation of symbols
Table explanation
This table presents an overview of the number of public libraries, the number of volumes in collections, the number of volumes lent out to the public, registered users, the staff working for public libraries and their operating costs and revenues.
Data available from: 1999.
Status of the figures:
The figures for 2024 are preliminary. All other figures are final.
Changes as of 11 September 2025:
The final figures for 2022 and 2023 have been published.
The preliminary figures for 2024 have been added.
When will new figures be published?
Preliminary figures for 2025 will be published in September 2026, as well as the final figures for 2024.
Description topics
- Staff and volunteers
- Employed staff, non-employed staff and volunteers.
For the years 2004 and 2005 there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
From 2006 onwards there are only figures for employed staff, due to a lack of quality in the data on non-employed staff).- Total staff
- Employed staff only, due to a lack of quality in the data on non-employed staff).
For the years 2004 and 2005 there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.- Number of full-timers
- Full-time employees hold a full-time job.
According to the collective employment agreement for libraries, a full-time working week contains 36 hours.
- Number of full-time equivalents
- Working hours converted to full-time equivalents.
For example: two persons both working 4 hours a day, add up to one full-time equivalent.
- Employed staff
- From 2004 onwards, there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
- Number of full-timers
- Full-time employees hold a full-time job.
According to the collective employment agreement for libraries, a full-time working week contains 36 hours.
- Number of full-time equivalents
- Working hours converted to full-time equivalents.
For example: two persons both working 4 hours a day, add up to one full-time equivalent.
- Non-employed staff
- As from 2004 , there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
- Number of full-timers
- Full-time employees hold a full-time job.
According to the collective employment agreement for libraries, a full-time working week contains 36 hours.
- Number of full-time equivalents
- Working hours converted to full-time equivalents.
For example: two persons both working 4 hours a day, add up to one full-time equivalent.
- Volunteers
- For the years 2004 up to and including 2016 there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
- Number of full-time equivalents
- Working hours of volunteers converted to full-time equivalents.
For example: two persons both working 4 hours a day, add up to one full-time equivalent.