Trategy. it's the word that comes to mind while perusing the results of LJ's latest annual book buying survey, for surely libraries will need new ways of dealing with the tight year ahead. Consider the numbers. Last year, budgets were up overall by 3.5%; however, 23% of respondents reported that adult book budgets were down. This year, one-third of those answering the survey complained of cuts, which averaged 21%. One-third of LJ's respondents did manage to secure increases, which shot up on average 11%. The luckiest libraries were those serving populations 250,000—499,9999, where 40% won increases averaging 6.4%. On average, where budgets increased, libraries serving populations under 50,000 posted the biggest gains. But for the first time since this survey began in 1998, adult book budgets have decreased—by 3%. Jointly, however, U.S. public libraries continue to represent considerable spending power (see "Purchasing Power/Circulation Profile: LJ's 125," p. 39).
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