I would note that the table in my article (and a previous post) does show outlets as a separate column–and here again, the total number is higher in 2009 than in 1999: not only have public library (agency) opening over the decade outnumbered closings (by about 180), branch openings have outnumbered closings (by about 290)–although that’s way too simple. (Bookmobiles, on the other hand, have declined over that decade.)

Will Kurt’s Library Data includes a post on year-by-year closures of both agencies and outlets; closures of all outlets show a similarly declining pattern over the years. Which is of no particular help to those whose friendly neighborhood branch just shut down, of course: I recognize that public libraries are primarily local affairs in the U.S., which I regard as a strength.

Many communities have multiple library locations (branches or, in IMLS terms, outlets). Most of the general public does not understand the subtle distinctions of library governance (city versus county versus “system”), and only think of their local public library branch as their library. Unfortunately, the press takes this same view. That means that for the public, closing a branch is closing their public library.

I know this because I lived through it as a City Librarian. We had a branch in a building which was literally unsafe for the staff to work in. We were working on funding for a major renovation (we eventually got it, but that took over 10 years of hard work by 3 City Librarians!). We did not have the money, but we did find a temporary location. Well, that did not really work out. After a while in that location, we closed it. The staff was re-deployed around the system (to fill the holes created by the city-wide hiring freezes), and the books were put in storage. What I consistently heard from the residents of that “neighborhood” was that I had closed their library. Never mind that the central facility was less than 5 miles away, they would not “go Downtown.”

I think that is what even the library press talks about when they talk about library closures.

What will be most interesting is to look at some of the data on number of hours of service provided (it is a data element), and see how that has changed over time. That will reflect the closing of branches, and will most likely be tempered with the replacement branch openings.