Fast Facts Reports

Differences in Home, School, and Library Use of the Internet by At-Risk Students, 2001

April 2004

According to an October 2003 report from the National Center for Education Statistics, 2 out of 5 children and teens rely on the Internet to complete school assignments (see Chart 1 in full report). One-third of the respondents to the 2001 survey reported using the Internet to communicate with others via e-mail and to play […]

Colorado Public Libraries and the 2003 November Elections

January 2004

Colorado’s November 2003 elections produced disappointing results for public libraries in the state, a reflection that voters are feeling the effects of the economic downturn and are reluctant to pass tax increases. Overall only 6 of 13 ballot issues for increases in public library funding were successful. Mill levy increases to operate libraries fared better […]

(200a) Top Ten Fast Facts

January 2004

In celebration of the 200th Fast Fact… The Library Research Service at the Colorado State Library in partnership with the Library and Information Science Program at the University of Denver is proud to present our list of the Top 10 Fast Facts. These are the Fast Facts that have been the most downloaded, requested, and […]

Budget Cuts Severely Reduce Library Services for Coloradans

December 2003

The last year and a half has been grueling for Colorado libraries. Of the 83 academic, public, school, and special libraries responding to an autumn 2003 Library Research Service survey, 52 reported budget cuts since July 1, 2002, for a total of over $11 million. Forty-nine of the state’s 115 (43%) public library jurisdictions responded […]

Challenged Materials in Colorado Public Libraries, 2002

November 2003

Each year the Library Research Service administers the Colorado Public Library Annual Survey, collecting data on various aspects of Colorado’s public libraries. Among the information collected is data on formal challenges to materials received by public libraries. In 2002, 16 Colorado public libraries reported a total of 70 challenges to books, materials, events or exhibits. […]

Colorado’s Public Libraries Offer Literacy Activities Despite Economic Difficulties

November 2003

Many of Colorado’s public libraries contribute significant resources to family and adult literacy activities, despite the difficult budget climate they currently face. The federal government no longer provides direct funding for adult literacy activities in public libraries and Colorado’s public libraries have faced significant budget cuts in the last two years. But a survey conducted […]

Internet Access High in Colorado’’s Public Libraries

November 2003

According to a February 2002 National Telecommunications and Information Administration (NTIA) report, A Nation Online: How Americans are Expanding Their Use of the Internet, 143 million Americans, or about 54 percent of the population, were using the Internet as of September 2001. With over half of the nation’’s population surfing the web, how have public […]

Colorado Public Libraries–Historical Data

July 2003

Since the earliest days, even before the territory achieved statehood, Colorado residents have supported libraries. In 1860 the Denver City and Auraria Reading Room was formed. On November 6, 1861 the first Legislative Assembly of the Territory of Colorado established the Territorial Library, which later became the State Library. By 1890 Colorado had 13 public […]

Impact of State & Local Budget Cuts Felt by Public Library Users

July 2003

While Colorado public libraries thrived from the 1990’s into the new millennium, state and local budget cuts that began to take effect in mid-2002 (i.e., at the beginning of the 2003 fiscal year) had a notable negative impact on public library users. Between 2001 and 2002, Colorado library users… visited libraries 1.6 million fewer times, […]