Public libraries

Public libraries

Periods Number of libraries (number) Volume collections Total volume collections (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Total number of books (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Total books for adults >=18 yrs (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Fiction (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Non-fiction (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Total books for young people =< 17 yrs (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Fiction (x 1 000) Volume collections Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Non-fiction (x 1 000) Volume collections Sheet music (x 1 000) Volume collections Audiovisual material Total audiovisual material (x 1 000) Volume collections Audiovisual material Music CDs (x 1 000) Volume collections Audiovisual material DVDs (x 1 000) Volume collections Audiovisual material Other audiovisual material (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Total volumes lent out to the public (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Total volumes of books (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Total books for adults >= 18 yrs (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Fiction (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for adults >= 18 yrs Non-fiction (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Total books for young people =< 17 yrs (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Fiction (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Books Books for young people =< 17 yrs Non-fiction (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Sheet music (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Audiovisual material Total audiovisual material (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Audiovisual material Music CDs (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Audiovisual material DVDs (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Audiovisual material CD-ROMs, CD-Is (x 1 000) Volumes lent out to the public Audiovisual material Other audiovisual material (x 1 000) Registered users Total registered users (x 1 000) Registered users Young people =< 17 yrs (x 1 000) Registered users Adults >=18 yrs (x 1 000) Staff and volunteers Total staff Total number of persons (number) Staff and volunteers Total staff Number of full-timers (number) Staff and volunteers Total staff Number of part-timers (number) Staff and volunteers Total staff Number of full-time equivalents (number) Staff and volunteers Volunteers Total number of persons (number) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Total revenues (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Revenues from users (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Revenues from mobile services (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Grants and contributions Total grants and contributions (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Revenues from on-charged costs Total revenues from on-charged costs (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Interest received (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Revenues Other revenues (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Total costs (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Housing costs (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Employed staff (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Non-employed staff (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Administration and ICT (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Media costs (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Interest paid (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Depreciations (mln euro) Operating costs and revenues Costs Other costs (mln euro)
2023 excl.* 133 23,783 22,217 9,643 5,333 4,310 12,574 9,898 2,676 224 652 109 438 106 56,790 53,592 21,267 16,527 4,740 32,325 27,703 4,621 42 796 68 605 123 3,605 2,286 1,319 7,907 791 7,115 5,049 26,265 625.6 49.4 1.0 523.4 33.9 0.8 17.1 631.5 133.2 307.7 25.8 47.4 51.9 65.6
Source: CBS.
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 2023 are preliminary. The figures for 2022 are revised preliminary, since further research is needed in regard to the financial variables. All other figures are final.

Changes as of 12 September 2024:
The revised preliminary figures for 2022 have been published.
The preliminary figures for 2023 have been added.

When will new figures be published?
Preliminary figures for 2024 will be published in September 2025, as well as the final figures for 2022 and 2023.

Description topics

Number of libraries
Volume collections
The overall collection including material lent out and specific sub collections for educational purposes, for lending counters in hospitals, homes for the elderly, etc. excluding mobile libraries.
From 2006 onwards there are no figures on magazine single issues and other collections due to a lack of quality in the underlying data. E-books are excluded from these numbers.
More information on the digital public library can be found in the table explanation.
Total volume collections
The sum of the sub collections books, sheet music, audiovisual materials, magazine single issues and other collections.
From 2006 onwards, magazine single issues and other collections are not included in Total volume collections.
Books
Physical books. E-books are excluded from these numbers.
More information on the digital public library can be found in the table explanation.
Total number of books
Books for adults >= 18 yrs
Total books for adults >=18 yrs
Fiction
Stories mainly derived from the imagination of the writer. For example: fairy tales, novels, plays, poetry and comic books are often classified as fiction.
Non-fiction
Texts mainly used to convey information. For example: informative books in general, dictionaries, essays, scientific works, study books and travel guides. Newspaper and magazine articles are classified as non-fiction as well.
From 2008 onwards including reference books.
Books for young people =< 17 yrs
Total books for young people =< 17 yrs
Fiction
Stories mainly derived from the imagination of the writer. For example: fairy tales, novels, plays, poetry and comic books are often classified as fiction.
Non-fiction
Texts mainly used to convey information. For example: informative books in general, dictionaries, essays, scientific works, study books and travel guides. Newspaper and magazine articles are classified as non-fiction as well.
From 2008 onwards including reference books.
Sheet music
Audiovisual material
Total audiovisual material
Music CDs
DVDs
Other audiovisual material
Microfiches, software, educational material, works of art and small material, (e.g. newspaper cuttings, brochures, wall posters, etc.).
From 2008 onwards including CD-ROMs, CD-Is.
Volumes lent out to the public
Total number of volumes lent out to the public by libraries, excluding mobile libraries and excluding e-books. More information on the digital public library can be found here in the table explanation.
From 2006 onwards there are no figures on other material due to a lack of quality in the underlying data. Between 2006 -2022 there were no figures on magazine single issues. In 2008 libraries adjusted their reported data on volumes lent out to the public for the number of extensions of items already lent out. Because of this the number of volumes lent out to the public is somewhat lower than would have been the case without the adjustment.
Total volumes lent out to the public
The sum of volumes lent out to the public of the sub collections books (excluding e-books), sheet music, audiovisual materials, magazine single issues and other collections.
From 2006 onwards other materials are not included in total volumes lent out to the public. Between 2006 -2022, magazine single issues were also not included.
Books
Total volumes of books
Books for adults >= 18 yrs
Total books for adults >= 18 yrs
Fiction
Stories mainly derived from the imagination of the writer. For example: fairy tales, novels, plays, poetry and comic books are often classified as fiction.
Non-fiction
Texts mainly used to convey information. For example: informative books in general, dictionaries, essays, scientific works, study books and travel guides. Newspaper and magazine articles are classified as non-fiction as well.
From 2008 onwards including reference books.
Books for young people =< 17 yrs
Total books for young people =< 17 yrs
Fiction
Stories mainly derived from the imagination of the writer. For example: fairy tales, novels, plays, poetry and comic books are often classified as fiction.
Non-fiction
Texts mainly used to convey information. For example: informative books in general, dictionaries, essays, scientific works, study books and travel guides. Newspaper and magazine articles are classified as non-fiction as well.
From 2008 onwards including reference books.
Sheet music
Audiovisual material
Total audiovisual material
Music CDs
DVDs
CD-ROMs, CD-Is
Starting 2008 CD-ROMs, CD-Is are part of the category other audiovisual material.
Other audiovisual material
Microfiches, software, educational material, works of art and small material (e.g. newspaper cuttings, brochures, wall posters, etc.).
From 2008 onwards including CD-ROMs, CD-Is.
Registered users
Memberships linked to a person. From 2015 onwards, users of mobile libraries are included in this number. Collective memberships (schools, homes for the elderly, etc.), trial subscriptions, and/or other fixed places where books can be lend, are excluded.
Total registered users
Young people =< 17 yrs
Adults >=18 yrs
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 total staff (e.g. employed staff plus non-employed staff).
Total staff
Employed staff plus non-employed staff.
For the years 2004 and 2005 there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
Total number of persons
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 part-timers
Part-time employees do not 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 2011 there are no figures due to a lack of quality in the underlying data.
Total number of persons
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.
Total revenues
Including revenues from provincial library centres for services rendered to associated public libraries and independent libraries.
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 is substantially lower than over 2003, as are the total revenues over 2004.
Revenues from users
Membership fees plus the fees for lending items of the collections.
Revenues from mobile services
Revenue from mobile libraries.
Grants and contributions
Total grants and contributions
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.
Interest received
Other revenues
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.