Romanians interested in books and cultural activities in 2024, museum visitors in decline

 Libraries lent 19 million volumes for 2.4 million active users in 2024, by 200,000 volumes and 10,000 active users more than in 2023, and the number of visitors to museums and public collections stood at 18.4 million people, down by 676,000 people compared to 2023, according to data released on Monday by the National Institute of Statistics (INS).In terms of performances and concerts, the organizing institutions and companies delivered 26,000 performances in the country, followed by 6.9 million spectators, with 1,900 performances and 0.8 million spectators more than in 2023.According to INS data, the library network operating in 2024 consisted of 8,105 libraries (administrative units), 158 units less than in 2023. Libraries had about 153 million volumes in 2024. In urban areas there were 3,255 libraries with a stock of 120 million volumes, while in rural areas, although the number of libraries was considerably higher than in urban areas (4,850 libraries), the stock was much lower, standing at 32 million volumes.There were to 2.4 million active users, whose distribution showed a preponderance of school libraries (53.8%) and public libraries (33.3%).The number of volumes issued to individual users was 19 million in 2024, down by 0.2 million volumes from 2023, with an active user borrowing an average of eight volumes/year.Accessible to the general public in all parts of the country, the network of public libraries, made up of 1,758 libraries (administrative units), has made available to the public about 41 million volumes of printed books and periodicals. In relation to the number of inhabitants, in the year 2024, an average of 10,800 inhabitants visited a public library, with an average of 2.1 volumes per inhabitant in the collections of public libraries. An active user borrowed an average of 11.8 volumes from public libraries.Library staff (including school libraries) consisted of 9,115 persons at the end of 2024, 90.7% of whom were specialized staff.The network of museums and public collections comprised 464 basic units last year, the same as in 2023, making available as many as 34.2 million cultural and natural goods to the public (an increase of 732,000 cultural goods compared to 2023). The number of visitors to museums and public collections, botanical gardens, zoological gardens, aquariums and nature reserves during the mentioned period stood at 18.4 million people, a decrease of 676,000 people compared to 2023.Statistical data also shows that the number of visitors who participated in the "Night of Museums" decreased from 596,000 people in 2023 to 402,000 people in 2024.The number of staff serving the network of museum units in 2024 was 7,587 people, more than half of whom were specialized staff (3,828 people).Also, the network of performing arts and concert organizations and companies in 2024 comprised 189 basic units, an increase of 14 units from 2023.Last year, performing arts institutions and companies held 26,000 performances in the country, attended by 6.9 million spectators. At the end of 2024, there were 13,310 people working in performance and concert institutions and companies, of which 58.4% had specialized artistic positions and 21.2% had specialized technical positions.In the year 2024 there were 585 units with editorial activity of newspapers and magazines.The national production of films for the big screen in 2024 comprised 67 films, 49 feature films and 18 short films. The cinema network comprised 108 cinema units, which had 473 theaters and 83,100 seats.In 2024, 1,508 films were distributed in cinemas, watched by 11.2 million spectators (compared to 13 million spectators in 2023).In 2024, the broadcasting program of public television stations was 75,300 program-hours and that of public radio stations 169,500 program-hours. In 2024, there were 325 private TV stations and 605 private radio stations.