Public libraries

Dataset is not available.


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 2022 are preliminary. All other figures are final.

Changes as of 15 September 2023:
The final figures for 2021 have been published.
The preliminary figures for 2022 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
Preliminary figures for 2023 and final figure for 2022 will be published in July 2024.

Description topics

Operating costs and revenues
Operating revenues excluding withdrawals from reserves and negative balances.
Operating costs excluding transfers to reserves and positive balances.
Revenues
Excluding withdrawals from reserves and negative balances.
Revenues from on-charged costs
Revenues for services (excluding mobile library services) that are not amongst the basic functions of public libraries (e.g. activities, school libraries, renting out spaces).
Until 2004, this topic referred to revenues from provincial library centres for services rendered to associated public libraries and independent libraries.
Until 2004 the number included de revenues of provincial library centres for employed staff, who were lent out on a more or less permanent basis to other libraries.
Starting 2004 the staff that is formally employed by provincial libraries but lent out to other libraries, is regarded as staff employed by these other libraries. As a result of this, the costs of non-employed staff over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total costs over 2004.
At the same time revenues from on-charged costs of staff do no longer occur in the summary of operating revenues. As a result, the total revenues from on-charged costs over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total revenues over 2004.
Also starting 2004, there is no longer a distinction made between the different sources of revenues from on-charged costs.
Total revenues from on-charged costs
Revenues for services (excluding mobile library services) that are not amongst the basic functions of public libraries (e.g. activities, school libraries, renting out spaces).
Until 2004, this topic referred to revenues from provincial library centres for services rendered to associated public libraries and independent libraries.
Until 2004 the number included de revenues of provincial library centres for employed staff, who were lent out on a more or less permanent basis to other libraries.
Starting 2004 the staff that is formally employed by provincial libraries but lent out to other libraries, is regarded as staff employed by these other libraries. As a result of this, the costs of non-employed staff over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total costs over 2004.
At the same time revenues from on-charged costs of staff do no longer occur in the summary of operating revenues. As a result, the total revenues from on-charged costs over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total revenues over 2004.
Also starting 2004, there is no longer a distinction made between the different sources of revenues from on-charged costs.
On-charged costs of staff
The costs charged on by the provincial libraries to the other libraries for the staff they hire from the provincial libraries.
Starting 2004 the staff that is formally employed by provincial libraries but lent out to other libraries, is regarded as staff employed by these other libraries. As a result of this, the revenues from on-charged costs of staff do no longer occur in the summary of operating revenues from 2004 onwards.
On-charged costs of mobile services
On-charged costs of media
Other on-charged costs
Costs
Excluding transfers to reserves and positive balances.
Total costs
Up until 2005 including payments of associated public libraries and independent libraries to provincial library centres for services rendered.
A large part of the staff employed by provincial libraries is lent out on a more or less permanent basis to other libraries. Until 2004 the costs of wages for this staff were accounted for by the provincial libraries and the costs of hiring this staff were accounted for by the other
libraries. The wage costs for the provincial libraries were accounted for as costs of Employed staff, while the costs for the other libraries were accounted for as costs of non-employed staff.
The costs charged on by the provincial libraries to the other libraries for the staff they hired, were accounted for by the provincial libraries as Revenues from on-charged costs of staff.
Starting 2004 the staff that is formally employed by provincial libraries but lent out to other libraries, is regarded as staff employed by these other libraries. As a result of this, the costs of Non-employed staff over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total costs over 2004.
At the same time Revenues from on-charged costs of staff do no longer occur in the summary of operating revenues. As a result, the Total revenues from on-charged costs over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total revenues over 2004.
Housing costs
Until 2004 excluding mortgage payments and depreciation of property.
Starting 2004 including mortgage payments and depreciation of property.
Employed staff
Non-employed staff
A large part of the staff employed by provincial libraries is lent out on a more or less permanent basis to other libraries. Until 2004 the costs of wages for this staff were accounted for by the provincial libraries and the costs of hiring this staff were accounted for by the other
llibraries. The wage costs for the provincial libraries were accounted for as costs of employed staff while the costs for the other libraries were accounted for as costs of non-employed staff.
The costs charged on by the provincial libraries to the other libraries for the staff they hired, were accounted for by the provincial libraries as revenues from on-charged costs of staff.
Starting 2004 the staff that is formally employed by provincial libraries but lent out to other libraries, is regarded as staff employed by these other libraries. As a result of this, the costs of non-employed staff over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total costs over 2004.
At the same time revenues from on-charged costs of staff do no longer occur in the summary of operating revenues. As a result, the Total revenues from on-charged costs over 2004 are substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total revenues over 2004.
Administration and ICT
Media costs
Interest paid
Until 2004 including mortgage rate payments.
Starting 2004 interest payments and depreciations are no longer accounted for separately, but form an integral part of the debit item they are directly related to (such as housing).
Depreciations
Until 2004 including depreciation of property.
Starting 2004 interest payments and depreciations are no longer accounted for separately, but form an integral part of the debit item they are directly related to (such as housing).
Other costs
Management and organisation costs, insurances, exceptional costs, etc.