“The swing of his nature took him from extreme languor to devouring energy; and, as I knew well, he was never so truly formidable as when, for days on end, he had been lounging in his armchair amid his improvisations and his black-letter editions. Then it was that the lust of the chase would suddenly come upon him, and that his brilliant reasoning power would rise to the level of intuition, until those who were unacquainted with his methods would look askance at him as on a man whose knowledge was not that of other mortals. When I saw him that afternoon so enwrapped in the music at St. James’s Hall I felt that an evil time might be coming upon those whom he had set himself to hunt down.”
From “The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes: The Red Headed League”, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, 1891
As you review the data below you will see that the game is turning, indeed, has already turned.
Humanity is changing permanently for the better, thanks to the ongoing, inexorable improvement in the health of the ether.
Spectacularly, here in March 2026, the most recent available PLS library data is from Fiscal Year 2023.
That is an example of the propaganda technique known, variously, as “stonewalling”, or a “news blackout”.
From FY 2003 to FY 2013, library program attendance in the United States increased by an annual average of 2.6%.
From FY 2003 to FY 2013, library program attendance in the United States increased by 25.4%, or by one fourth.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of .6%.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by an annual average of 2.4%.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by 9.8%, or by 75,545 attendees, from 769,980 to 845,525.
From 2006 to 2023, registered users of public libraries in the United States increased by 11.7%, or by 316,834 users, from 2,712,532 to 3,029,366.
From 2006 to 2023, registered users of public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of .7%.
From 2006 to 2022, registered users of public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of .4%.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of .6%.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, the .6% average annual increase in program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 49.9% greater, or basically half again greater than the .4% increase in registered users of public libraries in the United States during the same time period.
FY 2006 to FY 2022, physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States decreased by an annual average of 2.7%.
From 2006 to 2022, registered users of public libraries in the United States increased by 5.6%, or by 151,159 users, from 2,712,532 to 2,863,691.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by 39%, or by almost half, or by 5,922,857 visits, from 15,181,566 to 9,258,709.
From FY 2006 to FY 2022, physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States decreased by 42.8%, or by almost half, from 5.6 to 3.2.
From FY 2006 to FY 2014, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by 75%, or by three fourths, by 577,821attendees, from 769,980 to 1,347,801.
From FY 2006 to FY 2014, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of 9.4%.
From FY 2006 to FY 2007, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 3.5%, or by 95,283 borrowers, from 2,712,532 to 2,807,815,
From FY 2006 to FY 2007, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 9.6%, or by 1,461,643 visits, from 15,181,566 to 16,643,209.
In FY 2006, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 769,980 program attendees.
In FY 2006, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 2,712,532 registered users.
In FY 2006, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 15,181,566 visits.
In FY 2006, there were 5.6 physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States.
From FY 2007 to FY 2008, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 9.1%, or by 256,018 borrowers, from 2,807,815 to 3,063,833.
From FY 2007 to FY 2008, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 7.8%, or by 1,300,578 visits, from 16,643,209 to 17,943,787.
From FY 2007 to FY 2008, the 7.8% increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 19.6% less, or almost one fifth less than their 9.6% increase from FY 2006 to FY 2007.
Here, from 2007 to 2008, while physical visits to public libraries are still increasing, the rate of that increase has slowed considerably. I believe that this is the result of online library use.
From FY 2007 to FY 2008, the 9.1% increase in registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States was 160% greater, or more than two and a half times greater than its 3.5% increase from FY 2006 to FY 2007.
Here, from 2007 to 2008, public library use in the United States is increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2007, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 2,807,815 registered borrowers.
In FY 2007, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 16,643,209 visits
FY 2008, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,063,833 registered borrowers.
In FY 2008, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 17,943,787 physical visits.
From FY 2008 to FY 2009, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 2.6%, or by 78,586 borrowers, from 3,063,833 to 3,142,419.
From FY 2008 to FY 2009, the 2.6% increase in registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States was 73.2% less, or almost three fourths less than its 9.7% increase from FY 2007 to FY 2008.
Here, from 2008 to 2009, while registered borrowers are still increasing, the rate of that increase has slowed exponentially.
I believe that this is the result of online library use.
A deeper examination of the data will reveal the driver or drivers.
From FY 2008 to FY 2009, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by .01%, or by 1,797 visits, from 17,943,787 to 17,941,990.
From FY 2008 to FY 2009, the .01% decrease in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 100.1% greater than their 7.8% increase from FY 2007 to FY 2008.
Physical visits are no longer increasing, but, rather, they are decreasing.
I believe that this is the result of online library use.
From FY 2009 to FY 2013, physical visitation to libraries in the United States decreased by 8.2 percent.
From FY 2009 to FY 2010, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 5.2%, or by 163,465 borrowers, from 3,142,419 to 3,305,875.
From FY 2009 to FY 2010, the 5.2% increase in registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States was 100% greater, or two times greater than its 2.6% increase from FY 2008 to FY 2009.
From FY 2009 to FY 2010, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by 2.3%, or by 421,573 visits, from 17,941,990 to 17,520,417.
From FY 2009 to FY 2010, the 2.3% decrease in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 22,900% greater, or more than two hundred times greater than their .01% decrease from FY 2008 to FY 2009.5
Within the context of a doubling in registered borrowers during the same time period, here we see exponentially increasing library use, specifically online library use.
In FY 2009, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,142,419 registered borrowers.
In FY 2009, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 17,941,990 physical visits.
From FY 2010 to FY 2013, library circulation in the United States decreased by 3.6%.
From FY 2010 to FY 2013, computer usage in public libraries in the United States decreased by 9.2%, or by 333.9 million user sessions.
From FY 2010 to FY 2011, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by 1.5%, or by 265,736 visits, from 17,786,153 to 17,520,417.
From FY 2010 to FY 2011, the 1.5% decrease in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 34.7% less, or more than one third less than its 2.3% decrease from FY 2009 to FY 2010.
The decrease in library use in the United States is increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2010, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,305,875 registered borrowers.
In FY 2010, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 17,786,153 physical visits.
From FY 2011 to FY 2012, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 1%, or by 181,394 visits, from 17,520,417 to 17,701,811.
From FY 2011 to FY 2012, the 1% increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 166% greater, or more than one and a half times greater than their 1.5% decrease from FY 2010 to FY 2011.
Library use in the United States is increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2011, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,343,634 registered borrowers.
In FY 2011, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 17,520,417 physical visits.
From FY 2012 to FY 2013, library program attendance in the United States increased by 3.5%.
From FY 2012 to FY 2013, the 3.5% increase in library program attendance was 34.6% greater, or more than one third greater than its 2.6% average annual increase from FY 2003 to FY 2013.
Library program attendance in the United States is increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
It is signal to note that the exponential increase began in 2012, the last year of the Mayan “long count”.
In FY 2012, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 17,701,811 physical visits
In FY 2012, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,116,397 registered users.
From FY 2014 to FY 2015, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by 9.2%, or by 123,522 attendees, from 1,347,801 to 1,471,323.
From FY 2014 to FY 2015, the 9.2% increase in program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 2.1% less than its 9.4% average annual increase from FY 2006 to FY 2014.
In FY 2014, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 1,347,801 program attendees.
In FY 2015, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 1,471,323 program attendees.
On June 10, 2016, publiclibrariesonline.org’s Karen Pundsack said “Public Library Usage Shows Ten-Year Increase”.
From FY 2018 to FY 2023, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 25.4%, or by one fourth, or by 613,499 borrowers, from 2,415,867 to 3,029.366.
From FY 2018 to FY 2023, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of 5%.
In FY 2018, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 2,415,867 million registered users.
In FY 2018, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 16,686,945 million physical visits.
In FY 2020, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 8,039,580 pysical visits.
From FY 2020 to FY 2021, physical visits to public libraries in the United States decreased by 16.4%, or by 1,317,002 visits, from 8,039,580 to 6,722,578.
From FY 2021 to FY 2023, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by an annual average of 36.3%.
From FY 2021 to FY 2023, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 72.5%, or by almost three fourths, or by 4,875,007 visits, from 6,722,578 to 11,597,585.
From FY 2021 to FY 2023, the 36.3% average annual increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 626% greater, or more than seven times greater than their 5% average annual increase from FY 2018 to FY 2021.
Physical visits to libraries in the United States are increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2021 per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 666,661.
In FY 2021, Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 2,696,713 registered users.
In FY 2021, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 6,722,578 physical visits.
From FY 2021 to FY 2022, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 6.2%, or by 166,978 borrowers, from 2,696,713 to 2,863,691.
From FY 2021 to FY 2022, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by 26.8%, or by more than one fourth, or by 178,864 program attendances, from 666,661 to 845,525.
From FY 2021 to FY 2022, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 37.7%, or by more than one third, or by 2,536,131 visits, from 6,722,578 to 9,258,709.
From FY 2021 to FY 2022, the 37.7% increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 329.9% greater, or more than four times greater than their 16.4% decrease from FY 2020 to FY 2021.
Physical visits to libraries in the United States are increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
From FY 2021 to FY 2022, the 37.7% increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 508% greater, or more than six times greater than the 6.2% increase in registered borrowers at those libraries.
The back of technology addiction has been broken.
Physical visits to libraries in the United States are increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2022, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), program attendance public libraries in the United States was 845,525.
In FY 2022, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 2,863,691 registered borrowers
In FY 2022, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 9,258,709 physical visits.
In FY 2022, there were 3.2 physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States.
In FY 2022, there were 3.38 program attenances per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States increased by 5.8%, or by 165,675 borrowers, from 2,863,691 to 3,029,366.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States increased by 18.7%, from 3.2 to 3.8.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, physical visits to public libraries in the United States increased by 25.3%, or by 2,338,876 visits, from 9,258,709 to 11,597,585.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, program attenances per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States decreased by 30.7%, or by almost one third, from 3.38 to 2.34.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, program attendance at public libraries in the United States increased by 52.6%, or by more than half, or by 445,053 attendees, from 845,525 to 1,290,578.
Within the context of the fact that program attenances per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States decreased by 30.7% from FY 2022 to FY 2023, we know that this stunning 52.6% increase is coming from a quantum increase in mental health among a subset of the populace.
Experts in statistics will be able to explain it formally.
From FY 2022 to 2023, the 52.6% increase in program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 96.2% greater, or basically two times greater than its 26.8% increase from FY 2021 to FY 2022.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 18.7% increase in physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States was 222.4% greater, or more than three times greater than the 5.8% increase in registered borrowers at public libraries in the United States during that same time period.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 5.8% increase in registered users of public libraries in the United States was 728.5% greater, or more than eight times greater than its .7% average annual increase from 2006 to 2023.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 18.7% increase in physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States was 792.6% greater, or basically nine times greater than its 2.7% average annual decrease from FY 2006 to FY 2022.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 25.3% increase in physical visits to public libraries in the United States was 1,154% greater, or more than twelve times greater than their 2.4% average annual decrease from FY 2006 to FY 2022.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 5.8% increase in registered users of public libraries in the United States was 1,350% greater, or more than fourteen times greater than its .4% average annual increase from 2006 to 2022.
From FY 2022 to FY 2023, the 52.6% increase in program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 8,666% greater, or almost one hundred times greater than its .6% average annual increase from FY 2006 to FY 2022.
Library use in the United States are increasing exponentially because the health of the ether is inexorably improving, and moral and mental health vary directly with the health of the ether.
In FY 2023, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), program attendance at public libraries in the United States was 1,290,578.
In FY 2023, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 3,029,366 registered users.
In FY 2023, per the Public Libraries Survey (PLS), public libraries in the United States had 11,597,585 physical visits.
In FY 2023, there were 3.8 physical visits per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States.
In FY 2023, there were 2.34 program attenances per registered borrower at public libraries in the United States.
Jeff Miller, Honolulu, HI, March 9, 2026
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