The annual Academic Library Trends and Statistics Survey gathers critical information about academic library staff, expenditures, collections, circulation, and information services. The data help staff and administrators evaluate library performance over time and make peer comparisons. It can also help articulate the value of academic libraries and their impact on higher education, demonstrating the core services libraries provide, and the resources needed to support institutional missions.

This report focuses on U.S. academic libraries in fiscal year 2025 (the 2024–25 academic year). With the sunset of the Integrated Postsecondary Education Data System (IPEDS) Academic Libraries component after FY 2024, ACRL’s annual survey is the only source of comprehensive, national data. The results are weighted and therefore representative of all U.S. academic libraries.

Key findings include:

• Library Staff: The median total full-time equivalent (FTE) staff is 7.6, a slight decrease relative to 2024 even as the ratio of FTE students to staff has risen.
• Expenditures: Median total annual library expenditures are $470 thousand, excluding fringe benefits. Libraries spend $523 per student FTE, the same as in 2024, suggesting that when adjusted for inflation, libraries have less spending power in real terms.
• Collections and circulation: Academic libraries continue to focus on electronic resources, with 79.7% of total collection holdings and 98.2% of total circulation in digital format.
• Visits: The number of people entering academic libraries annually increased by about ten percent in 2025 relative to 2024, reaching a median of 53,250.
• Information Services: Library staff share expertise through interactions with users one-on-one and in groups. In 2025, academic libraries report a median of 838 for total reference transactions and consultations. Almost a third (29.3%) of these interactions occur virtually.

Academic libraries operate within a higher education environment facing demographic changes to enrollment and growing financial pressures. Against this backdrop, the 2025 survey findings show that academic libraries face challenges securing the funding and staff levels needed to maintain core functions and adapt to change. Nonetheless, libraries continue to serve as vital hubs for their institutions, providing community learning spaces, access to resources, and expertise to help users navigate the rapidly changing information ecosystem.

Survey data from 1998-2025 is available for subscribers in Benchmark: Library Metrics and Trends. Benchmark makes data-driven planning and advocacy easy for academic libraries by providing libraries with data visualizations that allow them to compare their inputs and outputs to peer and nationwide data.

ACRL Presents

Want to learn more about the 2025 ACRL Annual Survey results? Join us for a free webinar, ACRL Presents: The State of U.S. Academic Libraries: Findings from the ACRL 2025 Annual Survey, on Thursday, November 5 at 11:00am Central.

Register for free!

The October 2026 issue of College & Research Libraries News (C&RL News) is now freely available online both as a full issue PDF and as individual articles.

C&RL News moved to an online-only publishing model beginning with the January 2022 issue.

C&RL News Seeks Cover Art

C&RL News is looking for images from library collections to feature on upcoming covers. If you have items in your collections that you think would make attractive C&RL News covers, we would love to see them. To submit images (or image collections), send URLs for web-based images or images directly as attachments to David Free at dfree@ala.org. Please include a brief description of the item and your collection. Images selected to appear as C&RL News covers will require a high-resolution electronic image (300 dpi or higher) to be submitted prior to the publication date. Complete guidelines for the submission of cover illustrations are available on the C&RL News website.

Features

Kanu A. Nagra. “Toward Inclusive Library Instruction: Guidelines for Integrating Inclusive Practices.”

Kathryn Senn, Samantha Peter, Shannon M. Smith, Elena Payne, and Aralynn Juarez. “Finding the Power in Mini: Rethinking Library Tutorials with Microlearning.”

“ACRL Board of Directors’ Actions: Highlights of the Board’s 2025-2026 Meetings.”

Pamela A. Jackson. “The Ten Treasures: Structuring a Course Using Ten Primary Sources from Special Collections.”

The Way I See It
Katie Heeren. “Adapting to How Students Learn: Rethinking Information Literacy Instruction in the Age of Short-Form Content.”

Nina McHale. “Rank, Promotion, and Tenure in the Library: How Criteria and Process (Still) Favor Reference and Instruction Work.”

Academic Library Workers in Conversation
Tia Phillip, Caitlin Perkins, and Daniel Burnett. “From the Classroom to the Field: A Year of Exploring Why We Choose Librarianship.”

Departments

David Free. “News from the Field.”

David Free. “Grants and Acquisitions.”

The ACRL Board of Directors has approved a revision of the association’s Framework for Information Literacy in Higher Education.

In July 2024, ACRL convened the ACRL Framework for Information Literacy for Higher Education Review and Revision Task Force which was charged with reviewing and recommending potential revisions. The Framework revision process began with a comprehensive literature review, which examined over 200 articles published since the Framework’s inception. The review focused on information literacy instruction and the Framework as well as emerging trends in higher education, such as generative AI, and evolving approaches to critical information literacy.

To gather broad stakeholder input, the Task Force developed and deployed a survey and conducted five focus groups both virtually and in-person at the ACRL 2025 Conference. In addition, the task force hosted three synchronous webinars between March and April 2026, each focused on gathering feedback and exploring revisions to individual Frames

The Task Force then reviewed all gathered data and employed qualitative analysis to identify key and emerging themes and revision priorities. After reviewing the collected evidence and holding numerous discussions as a full committee, the group drafted a revised Framework that was expanded to address emerging technologies, critical approaches, and evolving information literacy needs in today’s higher education landscape.

The Board approved the revised Framework virtually on September 2, 2026. The revised Framework is freely available on the ACRL website.

Describe yourself in three words: Curious, persistent, and caring.

What are you reading (or listening to on your mobile device)? I am listening to Native Country of the Heart by Cherrie Moraga.

Describe ACRL in three words: Educational, essential, transformational.

What do you value about ACRL? I learned the value of ACRL while conducting my dissertation research on outreach librarians in higher education. Thanks to past publications of ALA/ACRL, I was able to go ‘back in time’ to investigate the needs of the community that helped create the role of the outreach & engagement librarian in the profession.

What do you as an academic librarian contribute to your campus? As the Outreach & Inclusivity Librarian, I contribute to my campus by helping students become more confident researchers, critical thinkers, and independent learners. I can place myself in students’ shoes because I was once a first-generation student. I work closely with staff and faculty on campus to connect students with reliable information and resources that support their academic success and help create a sense of belonging. 

Working at CSU Stanislaus, a Hispanic-Serving Institution (HSI) that is proudly ranked among the Nation’s Best, makes this role especially meaningful to me. Many of our students come from diverse cultural, linguistic, and socioeconomic backgrounds, and some are the first in their families to attend college. I see the library as a place where students can feel welcomed, supported, and comfortable asking questions. Providing equitable access to information, technology, and academic support is an important part of how I contribute to our campus community.

In your own words: As an academic librarian, I see my role as being much more than helping students find books or articles. I value the librarian’s ability to connect different areas of the college. Through collaboration with faculty, staff, and campus committees, I can advocate for student needs and help ensure that the library remains an active partner in student success, equity, and belonging.

Editor’s Note: Would you like to be featured as ACRL Member of the Week? Nominate a colleague? Fill out this form and we’ll be in touch!

Participants will have opportunities to connect across institutions while exploring career development, professional networking, funding opportunities, leadership, organizational navigation, and sustainable residency practices. In-person participation is highly encouraged, with virtual options available for select sessions. 

Learn more, view the schedule, and register on the retreat website.