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Weekly News Digest
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February 23, 2021 — In addition to this week's NewsBreaks article and the monthly NewsLink Spotlight, Information Today, Inc. (ITI) offers Weekly News Digests that feature recent product news and company announcements. Watch for additional coverage to appear in the next print issue of Information Today.
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IMLS Releases Findings From Pre-Pandemic Public Library Materials Study
IMLS unveiled a research brief, The Use and Cost of Public Library Materials: Trends Before the COVID-19 Pandemic, which “explores trends of physical and electronic collections expenditures and circulation, including comparisons among subgroups by locale and population size served.” The brief answers questions such as, “Do electronic materials enable libraries to provide greater value to their communities than traditional print materials based on cost per item circulated?” Findings include that from 2014 to 2018, “the percentage of libraries offering electronic collection materials increased from 80 to 90%” and “median cost for physical items circulated increased by 11%, while median cost for e-circulation decreased by 26%.”“As you’ll see in the brief, the growth and use of electronic books, online databases, and technology has continued to increase through the years, making digital collections a resource libraries continue to heavily invest in,” says Crosby Kemper, IMLS’s director. “We see that the focus on patron health and welfare and community development and cohesion are more critical than ever. And, as always for public libraries, the importance of reading as the basic skill and best support for improving people's lives remains a constant in American society." For more information, read the press release.
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Brandi Scardilli
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