News and Reviews
REVIEWS
The number of employees working at book, periodical, and music stores fell nearly 60% between 2000 and 2011. That is just one of the millions of data points that appear in the new Proquest Statistical Abstract of the United States, 2013. The new edition is the first one released through the co-publishing efforts of ProQuest and Bernan Press, an imprint of the Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group. The two companies took over publication of the reference work after the U.S. Census Bureau announced in March 2011 that it would stop publishing the book after the 2012 edition. ProQuest handled the editorial updates—including the addition of 39 new tables—while RLPG is doing marketing and distribution. Statistics are based on data available as of August 2012. Price is $179.
In some other book-related data, the Abstract found the hourly pay for book, periodical, and music stores employees rose to $10.88 in 2011 from $9.59 in 2005. Hours worked, however, fell from 25.4 hours per week in 2000 to 22 hours in 2010.
— Publishers Weekly
Patrons in need of serious data on the United States, including nitty-gritty on the lives of its inhabitants, need look no further than Statistical Abstract (ProQuest and Bernan, Jan.), but the book is also a browser’s dream, offering a mature alternative for those who’ve outgrown Guinness Book of World Records and your library’s various almanacs. It’ll be a welcome addition, too, for patrons tired of the bloviated Internet rhetoric that can’t stand up to table after table on such topics as school crime and safety, campaign finances, corporate profits, and immigration..... The careful presentation of this work is a joy to behold. Each section of statistics is preceded by an overview describing the sources of the numbers and offering further-reading leads where appropriate; appendixes provide more such detail as well as the happily retro, self-effacing (if statistically standard) “Limitations of the Data.”
— Library Journal
Librarians everywhere rejoiced when ProQuest announced its decision to take over publication of a classic source published since 1878, most recently by the Census Bureau. The 2013 print edition adds new tables on “Same Sex Households” (there were 646,464 in 2010), “Obese Children” (18%), “Youth with a Major Depressive Disorder” (8% in 2010), and “Mean Student Loan Debt” ($26,682). A new table, “Leisure Time Use” shows that most people watch too much TV (53% of their free time) as opposed to participating in sports/recreation (7%) or reading (4%). With enhanced indexing, the print edition is easy to navigate and a pleasure to use. ProQuest’s subscription database version includes monthly updates and enhanced searching capabilities.
— Library Journal Best Reference Review
A treasure trove of interesting, odd and illuminating statistics is revealed in the 135th edition of the Statistical Abstract of the United States.
— New York Post
Since it was first published, in 1878, Statistical Abstract of the United States has been one of the top reference books in libraries. In 2011, the Census Bureau announced that it would cease production of this venerable source. A call to arms by the library community ensued, including a discussion as to how to save the source at the 2012 ALA Midwinter Meeting. ProQuest came to the aid of librarians and announced that it would publish both print and digital formats of Statistical Abstract. The new print volume is larger (8 ½ by 11 inches rather than 6 by 9) than previous editions. With more than 1,000 pages, a two-volume edition might have helped the ease of use. The content is similar to previous editions. It begins with lists of both deleted and new tables. (Deleted tables include those that the publisher was not able to reach agreement with the source to continue coverage.) One of the deletions was the number and gross leasable area of shopping centers. New tables include the percent of adults who own electronic devices by age in 2010 and amusement-park attendance at the top 15 U.S. facilities from 2007 to 2011....ProQuest and Bernan are to be congratulated for continuing to provide librarians and users necessary statistical information. The publishers have succeeded in giving researchers of any age statistics at a reasonable price in print and online.
— Booklist
AWARDS
- Winner, Best Reference (Library Journal, 2012)
PRESS RELEASES
October 3, 2012
Important Statistical Abstract Update
Mar 22, 2012
ProQuest and Bernan Pick up Where the Census Bureau Left Off: The Statistical Abstract of the United States is BACK!
Praises for the Statistical Abstract
"The Statistical Abstract is librarians' favorite reference tool and the "go to" source for statistics. I am extremely pleased that Bernan and ProQuest are publishing it now that the Census Bureau is no longer doing so. I have every confidence that the quality and comprehensiveness of the traditional Stat Ab will be maintained."
-Alesia McManus, Director of the Library Howard Community College
"I'm thrilled that ProQuest will continue aggregating this important content. Even in our increasingly digital world, the Statistical Abstract remains one of the best reference sources for libraries"
-Sue Polanka, author of the widely read No Shelf Required blog and librarian at Wright State University
"The Statistical Abstract of the United States is an indispensable resource for any library, and it's the first place we look for statistics... I can't imagine doing reference work without Statistical Abstract."
-Lesley Williams, Head of Information Services, Evanston Public Library, Evanston, IN
About ProQuest
 ProQuest connects people with vetted, reliable information. Key to serious research, the company has forged a 70-year reputation as a gateway to the world’s knowledge – from dissertations to governmental and cultural archives to news, in all its forms. Its role is essential to libraries and other organizations whose missions depend on the management and delivery of complete, trustworthy information.
ProQuest’s massive information pool is made accessible in research environments that accelerate productivity, empowering users to discover, create, and share knowledge.
An energetic, fast-growing organization, ProQuest includes the ProQuest®, Bowker®, Dialog®, ebrary®, and Serials Solutions® businesses and notable research tools such as the RefWorks® and Pivot™ services, as well as its’ Summon® web-scale discovery service. The company is headquartered in Ann Arbor, Michigan, with offices around the world.
About Bernan
 Bernan is a leading distributor of essential publications from the U.S. government and intergovernmental organizations. Founded 60 years ago, Bernan created its publishing imprint, Bernan Press, to meet the demand of its customers for popular U.S. government statistical reference titles that are no longer being printed by the government. Bernan is part of The Rowman & Littlefield Publishing Group, Inc., one of the nation’s largest independent book publishers.
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