A Statistical Profile of
The Wayne State University Libraries

These statistics - unless otherwise indicated - cover the operations in the University Libraries: the Arthur Neef Law Library, the Oakland Center Library, Purdy/Kresge Library, Science and Engineering Library, Shiffman Medical Library, and the David Adamany Undergraduate Library. The figures marked with a red dagger () cover the Walter P. Reuther Library.

The University Libraries offer varied space for study and learning suitable for both individual and group use. These spaces include more than 4,239 seats and 49 group study rooms. Wireless network access and some 581 computer workstations are available to WSU students and faculty in these areas. To facilitate formal instruction, the University Libraries also maintain six instruction labs containing 147 computer workstations.

The Undergraduate Library alone provides 2,337 seats, 27 group study rooms, 386 computer workstations, and 3 instruction labs. The Undergraduate Library also contains the DeRoy Extended Study Center providing 24-hour access to 140 standard workstations as well as 30 high-end work stations with specialized software. The Extended Study Center’s hours are generally from 11a.m. Sunday through 9 p.m. Friday and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.

Library Staff & Services 2005-2006 2006-2007
Total Library Staff (Full Time Equivalent) 267 261
Professional Staff (FTE) 96 97
Support Staff (FTE) 90 86
Student Assistants (FTE) 81 78
Gate Counts 1,947,748 1,951,173
Total Number of Reference Transactions (in person, virtual, and telephone), excluding directional transactions 52,583 53,464
Number of Virtual Reference Transactions 2,787 1,927
Number of Directional Transactions 56,719 47,958
Number of Library Instruction Sessions and Other Presentations to Groups 596 520
Number of Participants in Library Instruction Sessions and Other Presentations to Groups 10,808 9,526
Total Circulation (initial and renewals), excluding reserves 211,165 198,302
Number of Initial Circulations, excluding reserves 141,345 132,623
Number of Circulation Renewals 69,820 65,679
Total Reserves Circulation (initial and renewals) 69,473 76,492
Number of Initial Reserves Circulations 61,020 65,228
Number of Reserves Circulation Renewals 8,453 11,264
Number of Interlibrary Loan Items Provided to WSU Students and Faculty 30,880 33,983
Number of Interlibrary Loan Items Provided to Other Libraries 38,802 30,955
Library Collections 2005-2006 2006-2007
Volumes in the Collection at the End of the Fiscal Year 3,443,247 3,458,773
Number of Monograph Volumes Purchased 17,719 16,271
Gross Number of Volumes Added 36,636 35,959
Number of Volumes Withdrawn 12,799 20,433
Net Number of Volumes Added 23,837 15,526
Number of Electronic Books 55,429 82,607
Number of Serial Titles Currently Received N/A 43,559
Number of Electronic Serial Titles Currently Received N/A 38,418
Number of Serial Titles in Print and Other Formats Currently Received N/A 5,141
Number of Microforms 3,866,924 3,895,009
Number of Maps and Other Cartographic Materials 54,923 55,752
Number of Graphic Pieces 2,159,039 2,159,189
Number of Audio Recordings 46,142 46,386
Number of Films and Video Recordings 29,151 29,696
Number of Digital Collections Created and Maintained by the University Libraries 13 14
Items in the Digital Collections 20,500 47,058
Total Expenditures on Library Materials $7,811,606 $8,344,118
Monographs $1,225,350 $1,138,986
Serials including Periodicals $6,079,545 $6,516,900
All Other Library Materials $506,711 $688,232
Use of Online Resources 2005-2006 2006-2007
Public Computer Logons 1,788,453 1,440,191
Number of Public Computers Providing Counts 600 585
Number of Visits to the Library's Website 1,464,449 1,491,616
Number of Visits to the Library's Catalog 2,186,700 2,484,390
Number of Sessions on Library Databases 3,079,081 3,207,572
Number of Searches Performed in Library Databases 2,723,712 3,245,546
Number of Databases Providing Counts 222 336
Number of Full-Text Articles Viewed 1,848,132 2,191,265
Number of Sources of Full-Text Articles Providing Counts 17,409 22,963
Library Expenditures 2005-2006 2006-2007
Total Library Expenditures $19,099,776 $19,599,699
Total Library materials $7,811,606 $8,344,118
Total Salaries and wages $8,812,470 $9,232,838
Other operating expenditures $2,475,700 $2,022,743

Much of the information on this page is drawn from the statistics WSU Libraries submit annually to the Association of Research Libraries. Our full response to the ARL Statistical Survey from 1986 to present may be found here: wsu_libraries_arl_data_1986_2007.xls

The Association of Research Libraries Statistics provide data on the collections, expenditures, staffing, and services at the 113 largest research libraries in North America stretching back to 1962. This data is available at http://fisher.lib.virginia.edu/arl/index.html.